Main Report

The Study on Tourism Development Projects in Egypt

1.4 Tourism Products and Tourism Market

1.4.1 Tourism Products and Resources

(1) Tourism products in Egypt
Because of the rich tourism resources covering wide range of the f ields as shown in Figure 1.4.1, Egypt has
various potential tourism products. The outlines of the products are described here.
Historical/Archeological Tourism:
This segment represents the tourism of Egypt traditionally with huge number with high value of
archeological resources represented by Pyramids in the Cairo and various temples and tombs in Luxor,
which are the specific in Egypt, but no other countries. Therefore, this attracts visitors from all over the
world irrespective of distances from the origin areas (long, medium and short haul market).
Marine Resort Tourism:
This is also one of the traditional products at the beaches along the Mediterranean Sea, but in old-fashioned
development. However, new style of the marine resort development has gotten significant success in the
southern Sinai region since the beginning of 1990’s. It is recognized that a door has been opened to a new
era of the marine resort development in Egypt with a geographical advantage; having a huge market of
European countries nearby, and beautiful seawater with various types of coral reefs and unique species of
sea animals.
Following the development of the southern Sinai, the development is started along the coastal areas of the
Red Sea with the unique development system of TDA. It is shown in the Chapter
1.3 of Part II.
The product attracts visitors mostly from short and mid haul markets. However, this is rather hard to attract
the long haul market, since there are many of competitor destinations with beautiful beaches and marine
resorts in any places closer than Red Sea.
The marine resort of Red Sea has a disadvantage compare with other marine resort destinations that game
fishing cannot be preferable, because the fishes and sea animals is limited in number due to Red Sea can be
considered as a biosphere closed at the Bab Al Mandab strait in-between Djibouti and Yemen. Marine resort
is one of the most environmentally fragile products without any proper control measures for the activities of
developers and visitors.
And more, though historical tourism can attract rather up markets of high aged group according to the trend
of the world tourism, the marine resort tourism is meet for the all segments of market, but rather down
markets.
Cruise Tourism:
The Nile River cruise between Qena and Aswan, which takes four days or five days, is one of the best
products of Egypt, while the cruise in Nasser Lake is yet matured. The cruise ships operated between Cairo
and Aswan and Qena and Aswan are 208 ships with 11,088 rooms and 3 ships with 155 rooms respectively
in 1997. The Nile River cruise has been attracting all segments of markets. This segment can attract all
segments of market irrespectively in distance, age group, sex, etc.
It is alarmed the proper counter measures should be taken against pollution of river water by the cruise
ships which becomes seriously year-by-year. It is essential to improve the cruising system for the
promotion of and maintaining the segment.
Eco-tourism:
This segment is still pre-matured except small activities along the Nile River and in the Desert and Oasis
region, while they have different features of the eco-tourism.

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Eco-tourism in Nile River:

In green areas and islets along the Nile River some resorts have been promoting such
eco-tourism activities, however these activities are not attracting visitors but supplemental ones
for the visitors staying in the resorts.
Safari in desert and oasis tourism:
Though the current situations of the eco-tourism in the region seem to be limited to SIT, this
has high potential for the future Egypt’s tourism, subject to develop in proper manners which
will meet requirements of new markets. The oases will be tourism bases of the eco-tourism.
The eco-tourism should be managed by the local people for eco-tour guides, eco-lodges
manager and staff, etc.
Other potential areas:
The following areas have potentials of eco-tourism.
Hinterland of Red Sea coast; and

Surrounding of Lake Nasser.

City tourism:
City tourism is represented by the two largest cities in Egypt: Cairo and Alexandria. Each of
which has cultural facilities as well as the town amenities in it. This is supported by the second
large tourism market of Arab region. Most of them are independent visitors, there being no
language problem.
For Cairo city, beautification of the city itself and the tourism areas in the city should be
required to give good sense of arrival to the visitors as a largest gateway of the Egypt where
majority of visitors are staying in Cairo at least one day. The more development should be
required for visitors such as improvement of sidewalk and/or pedestrian paths, waiting places at
entrance of cultural facilities, for example Cairo National Museum. The improvement of urban
traffic congestion is also required there.
MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event) Tourism:
Cairo International Conference Center (CICC), an autonomous agency of the Ministry of
Tourism has been established and built at the end of 1989 in Cairo to promote this segment.
CICC’s activities are contributing to promote this segment.
Except CICC MICE tourism is not matured, however, the marine resort is the favorable one for
this segment from the world trend, especially for the incentive tours. The incentive tour should
find its market in the neighboring counties.
Religious Tourism:
The assets for this segment are limited to the followings:
St. Catherine Cathedral in Sinai;

Coptic Museum, Monastery & Church of St. George, etc. in Old Cairo;

Monasteries in Wadi Natrun;

Monastery of St. Anthony, Monastery of St. Paul in the northern Red Sea;

Mosques in Cairo (Mosque of Mohamed Ali, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Mosque of Amr, etc.); and

Abu el Hassan el Shazly Mosque in the Red Sea.

Although this is another traditional tourism, but so far limited to the market of religious
pilgrims.

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(2) Tourism resources

Tourism resources are available based on the rich tourism resources of Egypt, which can be
classified into three categories as follows:

Table 1.4.1 Classification of Tourism Resources

A. Historical A1 Ancient (Prehistoric-Pharaonic/Greco-Roman) temple, tomb, statue, relief,
Resources painting, remains
A2 Coptic/Christian Monastery, church, place of historic/religious significance
A3 Islamic Mosque, fort
A4 Modern monuments Dam, canal, bridge
B. Cultural B1 Folklore Folklore, folk festival, fork music, handicraft (textile, hardware,
Resources woodwork, jewellery)
B2 City life Shopping, dining, events, entertainment, theatre, etc.
C. Natural C1 Marine Beach, diving/snorkeling site
Resources C2 Landscapes River, mountain, lake, desert, oasis
C3 Spa Hot & cold springs
C4 Fauna & Flora Mangrove, migrant birds, vegetation in oases
Source: JICA Study Team

Historical Resources
Historical resources are classified into four categories. Ancient tourism resources are the most
unique and valuable in Egypt, attracting visitors from all over the world. They are located
mainly along the Nile River with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Temples in Luxor as
highlights, followed by the Temple of Abu Simbel. Coptic/Christian tourism resources are
mainly churches and monasteries which are located in Cairo and the desert areas. Most of them
are places of religious life and not suitable for mass tourism. Examples are Mt. Sinai and the
Monastery of St. Catherine, which are famous for the story of Moses. Islamic tourism
resources are represented by Islamic Cairo, which is a medieval town with a number of original
mosques, gates and streets. Modern monuments, the Suez Canal, Aswan Dam and Aswan
High Dam are also included in this category.
Cultural Resources
Cultural resources are classified into two: folklore and city life. Folklore is represented by the
Bedouin folklore in Sinai, and the Nubia folklore in Upper Nile, although these are not
established attractions. Typical Egyptian souvenirs, such as papyrus, metalwork, perfume
bottles, accessories, etc., are found in every tourist place. The attractions of city life are
provided in Cairo and Alexandria where there are luxury hotels, restaurants, shops and
entertainment, such as clubs, casinos and bars.
Natural Resources
Natural resources are classified into four categories. Marine resources are the relatively new
attraction of Egyptian tourism. The Red Sea and South Sinai has rich marine life, such as coral
reefs and fishes, and its clear waters attract a number of divers from Europe. Main resources
such as the Nile River in Upper Nile and the desert and oases are categorized as landscapes.
Other resources such as hot and cold springs, and fauna and flora are located mainly in oases
and wetlands. Although they are not considered main attractions of Egyptian tourism, they add
to the natural tourism of the area.
The distribution of main tourism resources is shown in Figure 1.4.1.

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Figure 1.4.1 Distribution of Main Tourism Resources in Egypt

M EDIT ERRANEAN SEA REGION

CAIRO REGION

NILE VALLEY REGION

RED SEA REGION

DESERT AND OASIS REGION

LEGE ND
Historical R esource
Cultural Resource

N atural R esource

Source: JICA Study Team

(3) Characteristics of Tourism Regions

The Study Team classified 5 Tourism Regions and 13 Sub-regions by tourism products, market
conditions. The characteristics of each Tourism Region/Tourism Sub-region are as follows.
Cairo Region
Cairo Region is characterized as historical and urban tourism area. It consists of four
sub-regions, namely, Cairo, Nile Delta, Faiyum and Suez Canal.
Cairo Sub-region: This Sub-region functions as a gateway of international visitors. Tourism in
the sub-region is characterized historical/cultural/business tourism destination with variety of
tourism resources such as ancient heritage (Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur),
Coptic/Christian/Islamic heritages, various museums and city life. 1.3 million guest arrivals to
hotel/accommodations in the Sub-region were counted the largest Sub-region in Egypt, and the
average length of stay of international visitors was comparatively longer compared with other
Sub-regions. Most of Arab visitors in Cairo are repeaters enjoying city life, staying much
longer than other nationality groups.

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Table 1.4.2 Characteristics of Cairo Sub-region

Number of hotel guests in 1997 1,317,015
Arabian 14.8
Average length of stay of European 7.1
international visitors in 1994 (days) North American 8.1
Other countries 5.7
Arabian 16
Share of bed nights by nationality in European 30
1997 (percent) Egyptian 13
Other countries 41
Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT

Nile Delta Sub-region: Nile Delta has some historical resources such as Monasteries of Wadi
Natrun and rich scenery of fertile agricultural field of the delta. Those tourism resources are
not well utilized for tourism products yet.
Faiyum Sub-region: This Sub-region has the largest oasis in Egypt, which is an expanded
tourism destination from Cairo both for international and Egyptian visitors. There are various
species of water birds around Lake Qarun and some historical resources, such as the ruins of
Karanis and Meidum Pyramid. The number of hotel guests was about 84,000 in 1997.
Suez Canal Sub-region: This Sub-region includes some accessible tourism destinations from
Cairo, such as Suez Canal, city of Ismailia, and beach resorts in Ain Sukhna , which are
attracting Egyptian and Arab visitors.
Nile Valley Region
The Nile Valley Region along the Nile River can be characterized as historical tourism area,
which is the classic and matured area of Egyptian tourism. This Region is divided into two
Sub-regions of Middle Nile and Upper Nile.
Middle Nile Sub-region: This Sub-region includes valuable archaeological sites, such as
Tombs of Beni Hassan and Temples of Seti I and Rameses II. At present, security anxiety has
been obstructing its progress as a main and independent destination for international visitors.
Upper Nile Sub-region: This Sub-region includes classic and representative destinations of
Egyptian tourism, such as Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. There are numerous archaeological
sites including world heritage sites such as Karnak Temple, ancient Thebes and Necropolis on
the West Bank of the Nile, which are mainly attracting international visitors. The landscape of
the Nile River and riverine islands, and the Aswan High Dam are also main attractions.
Visitors in this sub-region take sightseeing tours, so that the average length of stay in each
destination is shorter than those of other destinations.

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Table 1.4.3 Characteristics of Upper Nile Sub-region

Number of hotel guests in 1997 387,607
Luxor Aswan
Arabian 2.8 7.3
Average length of stay of
international visitors in 1994 (days) European 4.9 2.9
North American 2.8 2.3
Other countries 1.8 1.6
Luxor Aswan
Arabian 10 6
Share of bed nights by nationality in
1997 (percent) European 35 32
Egyptian 14 20
Other countries 41 42
Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT

Red Sea Region

The Red Sea Region consists of two Sub-regions, namely, South Sinai and the Red Sea. This
Region is a marine resort area, which has newly grown as a main tourism destination in Egypt.
The Red Sea is a world famous destination for divers with its clear waters, colorful coral reefs
and rare fishes. Other attractions include various kinds of water sports.
South Sinai Sub-region: This sub-region consists of the coast of Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of
Suez, and the desert and mountains of inland Sinai. The coast of Gulf of Aqaba is a marine
resort area, which has newly grown as a main tourism destination in Egypt, mainly for
European holidaymakers and divers. Most of them are repeaters on package tour. Mt. Sinai is
another main attraction for international visitors. There are beach resorts, such as Ras Sidr at
the coast of Gulf of Suez, mainly attracting Egyptian and Arab visitors.

Table 1.4.4 Characteristics of South Sinai Sub-region

Number of hotel guests in 1997 996,427
Arabian 5.6
Average length of stay of European 8.1
international visitors in 1994 (days) North American 5.6
Other countries 4.4
Arabian 1
Share of bed nights by nationality in European 89
1997 (percent) Egyptian 9
Other countries 1
Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT

Red Sea Sub-region: The Red Sea is a world famous destination for divers with its clear
waters, colorful coral reefs and rare fishes. In recent years, huge beach resort developments
have been launched at the Red Sea coast, such as Al Gouna and Abu Soma, as new tourist
centers, while Hurghada functions as the gateway of this region. The number of hotel guests
was around one million in 1997, which was the second largest in Egypt following Cairo, and
the volume is stable throughout the year. A majority of visitors are European holidaymakers.
The average length of stay is longer compared with other destinations.

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Table 1.4.5 Characteristics of Red Sea Sub-region

Number of hotel guests in 1997 743,832
Arabian 4.5
Average length of stay of European 5.7
international visitors in 1994 (days) North American 4.7
Other countries 3.3
Arabian 3
Share of bed nights by nationality in European 65
1997 (percent) Egyptian 23
Other countries 9
Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT,

Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean Region consists of three Sub-regions of North Sinai, Alexandria and
Matruh. This region is characterized as coastal resort tourism area.
North Sinai Sub-region: This Sub-region includes some beaches for Egyptian and Arab
visitors. Lake Bardawil is a wetland for migrant birds.
Alexandria Sub-region: This Sub-region includes Alexandria City, which is a major
recreational tourism destination for Egyptian and Arab holidaymakers with popular beaches
and coastal row of buildings. There is good accessibility from Cairo by highway and railway.
The volume of visitors is almost same as Luxor, but some of its historical sites are less
attractive.

Table 1.4.6 Characteristics of Alexandria Sub-region

Number of tourist arrivals in 1997 393,255
Arabian 13.3
Average length of stay of European 6.1
international visitors in 1994 (days) North American 8.9
Other countries 5.7
Arabian 16
Share of bed nights by nationality in European 18
1997 (percent) Egyptian 53
Other countries 13
Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT,

Matruh Sub-region: This Sub-region provides beach resorts that attract Egyptian and Arab
holidaymakers. Recently, there has been rapid development of tourism villages in this region.
Desert and Oasis Region
This Region covers the Western Desert including the five main oases of Siwa, Bahariyya,
Farafra, Kharga, and Dakhla. This Region can be characterized as adventure
tourism/eco-tourism area, which is still immature but considered as a new alternative tourism
destination in Egypt. In recent years, the number of visitors has been increasing, though the
volume is not yet large. Most of visitors are international visitors.
An overview of each tourism region is shown in Table 1.4.7.

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Table 1.4.7 Overview of Tourism Regions

Folklore, Handicraft
Ancient

Marine Resort

River Cruise

Egyptian
Eco-tourism
City Life

Landscape

Urban Tourism
Cultural Facilities
Coptic/Christian

Fauna & Flora

Convention Tourism
Modern Monuments

European & Others

River Resort
Lake Resort

Lake Cruise
Islamic
Tourism Region

Tourism Sub-region

History Culture Nature Cruise Market

Cairo
Nile Delta
Cairo
Faiyum
Suez Canal
Nile Middle Nile
Valley Upper Nile
South Sinai
Red Sea
Red Sea
North Sinai
Mediterr
Alexandria
anean
Matruh
Desert & Siwa
Oasis Western Desert

Note: major products, second products, main target, second target

Source: JICA Study Team
1.4.2 Travel Pattern
Figure 1.4.2 to Figure 1.4.4 shows the travel patterns of visitors of major origin, Italy, Germany,
United Kingdom, France, the United States and Japan. These figures are prepared by the
analyses of tour pamphlets; therefore travel patterns of free individual visitors are not reflected
in the figures. And more, it has to be paid attention that it doesn’t reflect the needs of visitors.
But these it can show the characteristics of the travel patterns of each country’s visitors.
Figure 1.4 2 shows the travel patterns of Italian and German visitor, which can be said short
haul countries. They have the following characteristics.
They enter into Egypt not only at Cairo Airport but also at Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh Airports.

Nile River Cruise between Luxor to Aswan is a major product in the Upper Nile Sub-region. On the other

side
Lake Nasser Cruise is not a major product until now.

Marine resort in South Sinai Sub-region and Red Sea Sub-region is booming.

Safari & Oasis tour to the Western Desert has not developed enough yet. The access method is limited by only
land transport from Cairo Sub-region and Upper Nile Sub-region now.

Mediterranean Sub-region has not developed as tourist destination for short haul visitors.

Except for the relation between Cairo Sub-region and Upper Nile Sub-region, Movements among Tourism
Regions are limited.
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Figure 1.4.2 Travel Pattern of Short Haul Visitors

Alexandria

A lam ein Wadi el Natrun

Suez/Iamailia

St. Catherine
Nuweiba

Cairo

Siwa

Bahariya
Giza
Saqqara

Dendera

Luxor

Hurgh ada

Sharm el Sheikh

Kharga

Aswan

Esna
Edfu
Kom Ombo
Safaga

Lege nd

Air Transportation (Major route) Air Transportation

Land Transportation (Major route)

Land Transportation

Abu Sim bel

Ship Transportation (Major route) Ship Transportation
Destination with Airport
Major tourist attractions
Source: JICA Study Team

Figure 1.4.3 shows the travel pattern of UK and French visitors, which can be said mid haul
countries. They have the following characteristics.
A variety of travel patterns is not shown compared with short haul visitors. They have a few tour program to
South Sinai and Red Sea;

Cairo Airport has an important role as a gateway for visitors, especially for the visitors from UK. For French
visitors Luxor Airport also has a role of a gateway;

As same as short haul countries, Nile River Cruise between Luxor to Aswan is a major product in the Upper
Nile Sub-region. On the other side Lake Nasser Cruise is not a major product until now; and

West Desert, Mediterranean, and Red Sea Sub-region have not developed as tourist destination for middle
haul visitors yet. Almost travel pattern run only north and south.

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Figure 1.4.3 Travel Pattern of Mid Haul Visitors

Alexandria

Suez/Iamailia
St. Catherine

E ilat (Israel)
Nuweiba

Cairo

Giza
S aqqara

Dahab

Sharm el Sheikh
Abydos
Dendera

Luxor

Hurghada

Kharga

Aswan

Esna
Edfu
Kom Ombo
Safaga
Legend

Air Transportation (Major route) Air Transportation

Land Transportation (Major route)

Land Transportation

Source: JICA Study Team

Abu Sim bel

Ship Transportation (Major route) Ship Transportation
Destination with Airport
Major tourist attractions
 Figure 1.4.4 shows the travel pattern of the US and Japanese visitors, which can be said long
haul countries. They have the following characteristics.
Travel pattern is too simple and destinations are limited. Travel patterns which runs only north and south are
seen more clearly than middle haul countries;

Only Cairo Airport is the only gateway for visitors. They visit Cairo at first and then go to their destinations;

Cairo Sub-region and Upper Nile Sub-region have developed as destinations for long haul visitors, and South
Sinai Sub-region has a little developed. Otherwise other Sub-regions have not developed at all;

In Upper Nile Sub-region, Nile River Cruise is the popular product for US visitors. Though it is not popular
for Japanese visitors until now, it will be popular when Japanese Government permit Japanese tour agent to
add it in their tour program.

Almost methods of movements to another destinations are by airplane.

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Figure 1.4.4 Travel Pattern of Long Haul Visitors

Cairo

St. Catherine
Nuweiba

Dahab

Giza
Saqqara

Sharm el Sheikh

Luxor

Aswan
E sna
E dfu

Kom Om bo
Legend

Air T ransportation (Major route) Air T ransportation

Land T ransportation (Major route)

Land T ransportation

Source: JICA Study Team

Abu Sim bel

Ship Transportation (Major route) Ship Transportation
Destination with A irport
Major tourist attractions

1.4.3 Tourism Market

(1) World tourism trend
The world tourism statistics by WTO indicates the following trend in recent years:
5.0% of annual increase in international visitor arrivals worldwide between 1989 and 1993 with remarkable
growth resistant to economic fluctuation and other problems.

Slow down of 3.5% between 1994 and 1998 causing high unemployment in major industrial countries, and the
Asian financial crisis.

The trend of tourist receipt in the world in the past 10 years heavily fluctuated from 0.1% to 21.5% by
the economic situations and tourist arrivals.

Tourist receipt in the world on 1997 and 1998 record the serious stagnation. On the other hand, Middle East
region got 6.4 and 10.8% annual increase on the tourist receipt in the same period.

Table 1.4.8 World Tourism Trend

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Arrivals (million) 426.6 458.3 463.6 503.1 517.9 544.5 563.4 597.0 611.0 625.0 657.5
Annual increase (%) 8.0 7.4 1.2 8.5 2.9 5.1 3.6 6.0 2.3 2.3 5.2
Receipt (US$ billion) 221 269 278 315 324 354 305 436 436 445 -
Annual increase (%) 8.31 21.54 3.21 13.52 2.85 9.23 14.44 7.52 0.09 2.01 -
Source: WTO

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(2) Trend and characteristics of tourism market in Egypt

Number of visitor arrivals
Figure 1.4.5 shows that the number of visitor arrivals increased from 150 thousand in 1982 to
350 thousand in 1998. During the first half of the 1980s, the number of visitors stayed in the
level of 150 thousand, and exhibited rapid growth during the latter half of the decade only.
This is why liberalization policies were implemented in the aspects of exchange system,
accommodation charge, deregulation of charter ed flights, and development of some airports,
upon recommendation by the International Monetary Fund.
In the 1990s the number of visitors registered extreme highs and lows. There were four factors
that could explain the increase of tourist numbers. The first was the peace process in the
Middle East; second was the aggressive tourism promotion policy by the Egyptian
 government. The third reason was the trickle-down effect of the improvement of tourist
services; and the fourth was the diversification of tourism destinations, especially marine resort
tourism.
But international affairs and terrorism involving Muslim fundamentalists pulled down tourist
numbers in the 1990s. The growth rate of visitor arrivals in 1991 decreased 17.4% because of
the Gulf War, but it recovered the following year at 31.0%. In July 1992, a terrorist act, which
killed a tourist, brought down the numbers again. The number of visitors increased more than
17% from 1995 to 1996 then decreased 14% due to the terrorist attack in Luxor in November
1997.

Figure 1.4.5 Number of International

Visitors
No. of International v isitor arrivals (thousand)

6,000
Grow th rate of visitor arrivals in the World

Grow th rate of visitor arrivals in Egy pt

Grow th rate (%)

50.0

5,000

4,000
40.0

30.0

20.0

3,000
10.0

2,000

1,000

No. of v isitor to Egypt

The Gulf War

Terror incident in Lux or

Terror incidents in Cairo

0.0
-10.0

-20.0

-30.0
1982 1987 1992 1997

Source: Egyptian Tourism by Ministry of Tourism 1996, Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism,
Number of worldwide tourists 1982-1999 by WTO

Bed nights and average length of stay

Table 1.4.9 presents the number of bed nights and average length of stay. In 1992 the number
of bed nights had a high of 22 million after the Gulf War but it dropped to 15 million because
of terrorism incidents. From 1995 to 1997, total bed nights grew to 27 million but decreased
again in 1998 because of the terrorist attack in Luxor. The length of stay was in the range of
6.0 to 6.8

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until 1997 but went down to 5.8 in 1998. During the same year, the shares of European and
Asian visitors dropped, while visitors from the Middle East increased.

Table 1.4.9 Bed Nights and Average Length of

Stay
Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Bed nights (thousand) 21,836 15,089 15,433 20,451 23,765 26,579 20,151
Average Length of Stay (days) 6.8 6.0 6.0 6.5 6.1 6.7 5.8
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Regions and Countries of Origin

Table 1.4.10 and Table 1.4.11 show the regions and countries where most visitors to Egypt
originate. From the point of regional origin, Europe ranks first with a 60% share in 1997, up
from 48% in 1993 (there was a decrease in 1998 because of the Luxor incident). Visitors from
the Americas and the Asia & Pacific region have also been growing although not as large as
Europe. The shares of visitors from Middle East and Africa have been decreasing slightly.
As to country of origin, Western European countries, such as Germany, United Kingdom and
France, claimed the top five. Visitors from Italy have been rapidly growing in the 1990s and
tourist numbers increased more than double from 1992 to 1998.

Table 1.4.10 Share of Visitors by Region of Origin

(Unit: percent)
Region 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Middle East 28.8 30.6 31.7 23.7 21.3 22.6 28.6
Africa 6.4 7.4 5.9 4.2 3.0 3.0 3.8
Americas 7.0 7.5 7.1 7.3 6.6 6.5 6.3
Europe 51.9 48.1 48.2 57.8 60.1 60.4 56.7
Asia & Pacific 5.8 6.3 7.0 7.0 7.4 6.6 4.7
Others 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.6 0.9 0.1
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Table 1.4.11 Main Countries of Origin

Year First Second Third Fourth Fifth
1992 Germany United Kingdom France Libya Saudi Arabia
1993 United Kingdom Germany Libya Saudi Arabia United States
1994 Germany Saudi Arabia United Kingdom Israel Libya
1995 Germany United Kingdom Israel Italy Saudi Arabia
1996 Germany Italy United Kingdom Israel France
1997 Germany Italy United Kingdom Israel France
1998 Italy Israel Germany United Kingdom Saudi Arabia
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Table 1.4.12 shows the bed nights by region of origin. In general, the shares of Middle East
and Africa are decreasing, while that of Europe is increasing. In 1997, visitors from Europe
generated 63% of bed nights. In 1993, 1994 and 1998 when tourist numbers decreased because
of terrorism, the shares of Europe decreased drastically, while that of Middle East increased.

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Table 1.4.12 Share of Bed Nights by Region of Origin

(Unit: percent)
Region 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Middle East 32.0 33.1 37.0 28.3 23.8 21.2 26.9
Africa 6.8 7.0 7.0 5.1 3.4 3.3 4.2
Americas 6.0 6.7 6.5 7.2 6.2 6.4 6.4
Europe 50.3 47.7 43.1 52.5 60.5 63.3 58.2
Asia & Africa 4.9 5.3 6.3 6.8 6.0 5.7 4.2
Others 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Table 1.4.13 gives the average length of stay by region of origin. Figures for the Middle East
reflect a downward trend, while no pattern is seen for the other areas.

Table 1.4.13 Average Length of Stay by Region of Origin

(Unit: days)
Region 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Middle East 7.6 6.5 7.0 7.8 6.8 6.3 5.5
Africa 7.2 5.7 7.0 8.1 7.0 7.2 6.5
Americas 5.9 5.4 5.5 6.4 5.7 6.6 6.0
Europe 6.6 6.0 5.3 5.9 6.1 7.0 6.0
Asia & Africa 5.7 5.1 5.3 6.3 5.0 5.9 5.3
Others 7.5 5.5 7.7 11.7 0.3 0.6 8.2
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Egyptian market
Data and information about Egyptian market is limited in Egypt. Only the publication “Egypt
Tourism in Figures” has the number of hotel guests and number of hotel nights in major six
tourist destinations. Nonetheless, the following trend could be gleaned:
There is a steady growth of Egyptian visitors in Egypt after 1993. Average annual growth rate is 11.6%.

The average length of stay has also increased from 2.0 days in 1993 to 4.5 days in 1997.

Preferred tourism products by the Egyptian market is beach resort in summer holiday, week end or one-day trip

Business trips may share rather large portion of the Egyptian tourism.

Figure 1.4.6 shows the change of Egyptians’ number of hotel guests and their average length of
stay.

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Figure 1.4.6 Egyptians’ number of hotel guests and their average length of stay
No. of Hotel Guests
(thousand persons)

Length of Stay (days)

900 5.00

800 Length of Stay 4.50

700 Hotel Guests

600
500

400

300

200

100

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00

Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Destination
Table 1.4.14 shows the share of hotel guests in major six destinations. It in Cairo dropped from
50.5% in 1993 to 31.7% in 1997. On the other hand, it in South Sinai and Red Sea has
increased from 17.7% in 1992 to 41.9% in 1997. It in Luxor and Aswan has decreased from
18.6% in
1992 to 9.3% in 1997 and 10.1% to 7.8% respectively.

Table 1.4.14 Share of Hotel Guests in Major Six Destinations

(Unit: percent)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Cairo 42.3 50.5 50.1 37.6 34.7 31.7
Alexandria 11.3 13.6 16.4 14.2 12.8 9.4
Luxor 18.6 11.3 8.6 7.2 9.9 9.3
Aswan 10.1 6.1 4.0 3.5 4.8 7.8
 South Sinai 8.1 9.1 9.4 17.9 16.0 17.9
Red Sea 9.6 9.5 11.5 19.7 21.7 24.0
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Table 1.4.15 is the share of bed nights by destination. The share of Cairo remained high level
during 1992 to 1997. Meanwhile, the shares of Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan have been
continuously decreasing; especially, the share of Luxor dropped more than 10% from 1992 to
1995. The shares of South Sinai and the Red Sea increased during the same period; in fact, the
Red Sea garnered one-fourth share of bed nights from 1994 to 1997. This is why the marine
resort of Red Sea is booming while the history/archaeology tourism in the Upper Nile is
declining, although the share is recovering gradually in 1997.

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Table 1.4.15 Share of Bed Nights by Destination

(Unit: percent)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Cairo 27.9 36.1 35.1 23.0 28.6 31.2
Alexandria 10.0 10.9 11.5 7.9 6.6 9.9
Luxor 17.8 12.3 8.7 6.3 7.4 9.7
Aswan 7.2 4.0 2.8 2.1 2.4 8.2
South Sinai 16.2 17.1 17.4 27.5 21.8 13.8
Red Sea 20.9 19.7 24.5 33.3 33.2 27.3
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Table 1.4.16 shows the average length of stay by destination. Figures of the South Sinai and the
Red Sea indicate more than five days stay; other destinations have lesser numbers of days. The
reasons of the drastic drop of South Sinai in 1997 should be clarified and provide proper
countermeasures, and other similar destinations should learn from the reasons for maintain and
prolong their length of stay.

Table 1.4.16 Average Length of Stay by Destination

(Unit: days)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Cairo 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.0 3.3 4.7
Alexandria 2.3 2.1 2.0 1.8 2.0 5.1
Luxor 2.4 2.9 2.9 2.8 3.0 5.0
Aswan 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 5.1
South Sinai 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.0 5.4 3.7
Red Sea 5.5 5.6 6.0 5.5 6.1 5.5
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures, annual issues by Ministry of Tourism

Expenditure
Table 1.4.17 indicates tourist expenditure per night by origin region from “A research on
Estimating the Tourist Expenditure in the Arab Republic of Egypt (Tourist Expenditure
Survey)” in 1994. This survey is carried out every two years by CAPMS at International
Airports in Egypt. In the survey, actual expenditure amount, purpose of visit, length of stay,
destination, and evaluation of tourism services in hotels and transportation, etc. are asked to
international visitor.
Compared to individual visitors from Europe, visitors traveling in a group from the same origin
spend a little more. Because most group visitors stay in accommodation with inclusive terms
like marine resorts, where prices are more competitive worldwide, and prices tend to down.
On the other hand, individual visitors from the Americas and other areas, including Asia, spend
much less than group visitors. The reason seems that most of them is young back packer.

Table 1.4.17 Tourist Expenditure by Region of Origin

(Unit: US$)
Region Individuals Groups Average
Middle East 94 - 94
Europe 110 108 109
The Americas 169 177 170
Others 138 173 148
Average 103 119 106
Source: A Research on Estimating the Tourist Expenditure in the Arab
Republic of Egypt by CAPMS in 1994

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Age group
Table 1.4.18 shows the age structure of visitors by origin region. Visitors from the Middle East
who are 30s, 40s and 50s, and have combined shares of 20% to 30%. A majority of visitors
from Europe, the Americas and other countries are 50s.

Table 1.4.18 Share of Visitors by Age Group and by Region of Origin

(Unit: percent)
No. of
sampled Less than
Region 30 30- 40- 50- 60- 70- Not stated
visitors
Middle East 11,545 2.0 30.9 32.8 20.7 10.2 3.0 0.5
Europe 7,578 1.3 12.5 12.5 64.3 7.6 1.5 0.3
The Americas 1,850 1.9 11.0 18.2 48.1 14.6 5.4 0.8
Others 2,348 2.2 26.5 26.5 44.2 6.8 2.3 0.7
Total 23,321 1.8 22.9 24.4 39.4 9.4 2.6 0.5
Source: A Research on Estimating the Tourist Expenditure in the Arab Republic of Egypt by CAPMS in 1994

Frequency of visit
Table 1.4.19 shows the frequency of visit of individual visitors. About 70% of visitors from the
Middle East have visited Egypt more than three times. More than half of visitors from the
Americas and other long-haul visitors are on their first visit. Though first timers dominate the
European market, those on their second visit have a high percentage share (21.0%). Individual
visitors from Europe and the Americas who are visiting for the fourth time or more have a 22%
share.

Table 1.4.19 Frequency of Visit of Individual Visitors by Region of Origin

(Unit: percent)
Frequency of visit
Region
1st time 2 time
nd 3rd time 4th time & over
Middle East 8.4 10.2 13.2 68.2
Europe 44.2 21.0 12.2 22.6
The Americas 50.0 15.2 11.9 22.8
Others 52.1 26.9 7.6 13.5
Source: A Research on Estimating the Tourist Expenditure in the Arab Republic of
Egypt by CAPMS in 1994

1.4.4 Major Issues on Tourism Products Development and Tourism Market Development in
Egypt
(1) Issues on tourism products in Egypt
Traditional tourism products
The existing tourism products should be maintained their value and also added new attractions
improving facilitation of each tourism resources.
New tourism products
Beside the traditional tourism products, it is required to develop new products in order to
promote the tourism of Egypt, such as eco-tourism in desert areas, formulate the newly found
ruins in the sea of Alexandria as a product, etc.
Integration of tourism products
As one of the effective diversification methods of the tourism products is to integrate tourism
products each of which characteristics is different. To supplement the characteristic each other

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could be a new products integrating attractiveness of each. While Nile cruise and
Historical/Archeological tourism have been integrated and become the most essential tourism
product in Egypt, the followings are the possible integration in future:
History/Archaeology tourism of Cairo Tourism Region and marine resort tourism in South Sinai Region: this
integration may be being matured.

History/Archaeology tourism of Upper Nile Region and marine resort tourism in Red Sea Region: this
integration is the potential one to have most effectiveness for each together.

History/Archaeology tourism of Upper Nile Region and eco-tourism in Desert & Oasis Region: this will have
another high potential in near future.

Eco-tourism in hinterlands of the Red Sea coast and marine resort of red sea

Eco-tourism in hinterland of the Nasser lake and Nasser lake cruise

Reinforcement of linkage of the destinations each of which has different characteristics is

essential to promote the integration of the tourism products improving transportation facilities.
Tourism products in Egypt, which are attractive to international visitors, are represented by
historical tourism along the Nile River as well as by marine tourism mainly with diving
activities along the Red Sea coast. The activity patterns and the markets of these tourism are
definitely different.
The historical tourism takes the form of sightseeing tours, while the marine tourism takes the
form of long-term staying. Historical tourism attracts visitors from all over the world
irrespective of distances from origin areas (long, medium and short haul market), while the
marine tourism attracts visitors mostly from European countries (short and mid haul market).
Integrated products, which include both types of tourism destinations, are rare. In most cases,
these two products are separated in each sub-region and prepared as optional tours with each
other. That is because (a) the market of each tourism is deferent; (b) the domestic transportation
system is not adequate to absorb the integrated tourism product; and (c) the capacity of Egyptian
tourism industry is not satisfactory developed to supply the services for various needs of
visitors. In other words, the capability of the Egyptian tourism industry is not yet matured
enough to meet the various requirements from independent international visitors.
The other largest markets of Egyptian tourism are the Arab countries. They enjoy city tourism,
staying in Cairo or Alexandria. Most of them are independent visitors, because there is no
language barrier in communications.
The enhancement of products in Cairo as the national Gateway
Travel patterns in 1.4.2 shows that Cairo has the important role as the national gateway.
International visitors arriving at Cairo at first, and then go to their destination. This is why basic
information about each destination should be provided to them in Cairo. From the point of
view, the improvement of Cairo National Museum is needed. Although it has a long history
with important historical/archeological treasures, the building is not enough space to exhibit
these treasures. And more, information supply for international visitor is limited.
(2) Issues on tourism market in Egypt
Its famous historical heritage sites have enabled Egyptian to carry out simple market promotion
for a long time, but conditions have changed at the onset of the 1990s with the addition of
marine resort tourism to the main tourism products in Egypt. Egypt has to compete with its
competitor countries in many aspects, such as service level and price, in the marine resort
market from now on. It is therefore important to develop an appropriate market promotion
plan. There is a need to look into diversification of customers (not only group visitor but also
free independent visitor) in order to achieve the tourism development target. Considerable
and complete services and provision of necessary information for individual visitors will be
needed

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to increase free independent visitors in the future.

The Study Team carried out an interview survey of travel agents in Europe and in Japan last
June and August 1999. Table 1.4.20 shows their opinions about the current condition and
future prospects for Egyptian tourism.

Table 1.4.20 Results of Interview of Travel Agents in Europe and Japan (1/2)
Country Italy Germany United Kingdom
Historical tourism in Nile valley Egyptian tourism is Historical tourism is dominant
Products/Customs/Competitors

products and marine resort in Red booming now. in Egyptian Market. Recently
Sea are different products Competitor in marine resort adventure (desert) tour and
(handled by different agents, is Tunisia. diving tour are getting
different pamphlet in large-scale popular.
agent). Hurghada is the most
favorite marine resort Historical tourism products
For almost customer, “Red Sea” destination for German. including Nile cruise are
Resorts means “Sinai Peninsula”. most favorite products.
Middle-aged people and families Competitors are Middle East
is main target segment. Countries (Israel, Jordan and
No competitor in aspect of Syria), which have unstable
historical tourism. international relations.
Transportation method should be Air transportation services. Service standard in domestic
Problems/Constrains

improved, especially international Domestic transportation. freight (airfare, delay and

& domestic airlines (Service service standard), and
standard by Egypt air, Jam in Poor infrastructure. domestic airport terminal.
airport terminals). Hygiene standard.
Hygiene standards in hotel,
cruising ships and local restaurant
should be improved.
Quality and quantity of tourist
guide should be improved.
Ratings of hotels and floating
hotels are not carried out properly.
Historical tourism in Egypt will be - Historical tourism will
steady product in the future. continue to dominate
Future prospecting

Marine resort tourism and Oasis Egyptian market.

tourism have potential. Safari (desert) tourism will be
Development of supporting getting popular.
infrastructure will be important. Decreasing terrorist incident
Publicity campaign such as CF, and price decrease in charter
and advertisement in newspapers freight would be necessary to
and magazines are useful. keep steady growth of tourist
number
Source: JICA Study Team

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Table 1.4.20 Results of Interview of Travel Agents in Europe and Japan (2/2)
Country France Japan
Main product is historical tourism and cruse in Historical tourism is dominant in Egyptian

Products/Customs/Competitors
Nile valley market.
For Marine resort, Tunisia is the most favorite Historical tourism that includes Nile cruse was
place most favorite products for customers before
Some tour agents prepare for tour products Luxor incident.
that mixed historical tourism and marine resort Competitors are Turkey and Morocco will be in
tourism. The other companies consider them the future. But Egypt has unique historical
as different products. tourism resources.
French people prefer FIT to package tour. Middle-aged group is major target segment
Number of young tourist is growing however while share of honeymooners and young ladies
rich middle-aged people remains target have decreased after Luxor incident.
segment.
No competitor in aspect of historical tourism
resources
Service standard of Egypt air (Cancel of Price is high than other Middle East
Problems/Constrains

freight and delay) should be improved. destinations (prices for international tourist,
Services in airport terminals (Information, pricing without seasonal demand)
signs and jam) should be improved. International & domestic freight (number of
Hygiene standard should be improved. fright & number of seat is limited).
Decrease of tourist number has not recovered
yet (Especially Japanese agents cannot
prepare for an itinerary with Nile cruise.
Recently Japanese Government has admitted
it).
Nile cruse will be a major tourist product for Security assurance is most important to
French people. recover tourist number.
Future prospecting

Marine resort tourism in Red Sea will develop Improvement of publicity has to be needed in
however it is doubt that French people will go Japan. ETA is emphasizing on marine resort,
there or not. but it will not appeal for Japanese mass market
Product mix of historical tourism in Nile valley since various alternative destinations are
and marine resort tourism in Red Sea will be located in short haul range.
possible.
Oasis and safari (desert) tourism will have
potential to be developed.
Publication by ETA office to tour agents is not
enough. Further co-operation between ETA
and tour agents would be needed to increase
tourist number to Egypt.

Source: JICA Study Team

The opinions on the tourism promotion are summarized below:

Historical/archeology tourism is a major tourism product for Egypt and will grow steadily in the future;

Historical/archeology tourism with the Nile cruise is the most popular products in the top five countries of
origin of visitors. Japanese travel agents recognize that offering a historical tourism product without the Nile
cruise is one of the most important reasons for the limited recovery of Japanese tourist numbers after the
Luxor incident in 1997;

As to historical tourism, Egypt has no competitors because of its unique historical tourism resources;

Marine resort tourism is a more important product in Italy and Germany than in the United Kingdom and
France. On the other hand, marine tourism does not hold any attraction for most Japanese consumers;

In marine resort tourism, Mediterranean countries will provide stiff competition to Egypt because more than
50% of visitors to marine resorts in the Red Sea area come from Western Europe, which is also a potential
market for Mediterranean tourism. Travel agents in Italy and Germany pointed out that Tunisia is a would-be
rival because of its competitive pricing;

New tourism products such as desert tourism and oasis tourism have potentials;

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Service improvements are needed in air transport (both domestic and international flights), hotels and floating
hotels, tour guides, etc.;

The rating of hotels and floating hotels is not carried out appropriately. Some of them still have high rankings
even though their facilities are already in poor condition and their service level has gone down; and

Publicity activities of each ETA office are different by country. It was highly evaluated by travel agents in
Italy but received low ratings in France and Japan.

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1.5 Tourism Facilities

1.5.1 Existing Condition of Tourism Facilities

(1) Accommodation
Classification of accommodation
The categories of tourist accommodation are hotel, tourist village and floating hotel, according
to the Ministry of Tourism. Hotels are defined as high buildings, and tourist villages are
defined as cottage typed accommodation facilities. In this report hotel means the both of tourist
villages and hotels.

Table 1.5.1 Accommodation in Egypt in 1997

Number Rooms Beds
Hotel 515 50,239 99,900
Tourist Village 100 14,118 28,461
Floating Hotel 214 11,322 22,625
Total 829 75,679 150,986
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures 1997 by MOT

Ranks
Hotels and tourist villages are ranked according to quality of facilities and services; the same
goes for floating hotel, which has four ranks (from 2 star to 5 star). Table 1.5.2 shows that 60%
of 5-star rooms are located in the Cairo region. In the Mediterranean region, 3-star and 2-star
hotels have large shares, and there are 30% under-classified hotels in the Red Sea Region.

Table 1.5.2 Distribution of Rooms by Hotel Rank in 1997

Under
Tourism Region 5star 4star 3star 2star 1star classified* Total
Cairo 9,673 2,671 4,384 2,011 643 776 20,158
(Share) 60.1 34.0 44.2 34.9 22.1 15.5 42.4
Nile Valley 2,555 1,435 1,153 994 650 836 7,623
(Share) 15.9 18.3 11.6 17.2 22.3 16.7 16.0
Mediterranean 1,114 1,350 3,389 1,800 1,359 90 9,102
(Share) 6.9 17.2 34.1 31.2 46.6 1.8 19.1
Red Sea 2,744 2,402 999 849 237 3,318 10,549
(Share) 17.1 30.6 10.1 14.7 8.1 66.1 22.2
Desert & Oasis 0 0 0 114 27 0 141
(Share) 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.9 0.0 0.3
Total 16,086 7,858 9,925 5,768 2,916 5,020 47,573**
(Share) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Note: * Under classified means that the star ranking by MOT has not done.
** Total hotel rooms in Egypt are 50,259 rooms in 1997. 2,686 hotel rooms are excluded in the list.
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figure 1997 by MOT

Accommodations in the Red Sea Region are mostly tourist villages, which in 1997 numbered
72, with a total of 10,260 rooms.
Geographical distribution of accommodation
In 1982 and 1993, more than 50% of hotel rooms were distributed in the Cairo Tourism Region
but the share decreased to 30% in 1997, as indicated in Table 1.5.3. The share of the Red Sea
Tourism Region rapidly grew to 31.1% in 1997 from 7.7% in 1993. The number of hotel
rooms in the Nile Valley also developed three times as much during the same period while
the share

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increased only 8%.

Table 1.5.3 Number of Hotel Rooms in Tourism Regions

1982 1993 1997
Tourism Region
Number Share Number Share Number Share
Cairo 10,639 56.4 20,233 51.3 22,598 30.0
Nile Valley 3,314 17.6 6,879 17.4 18,874 25.1
Mediterranean Sea 3,170 16.8 9,189 23.3 9,947 13.2
Red Sea 639 3.4 3,032 7.7 23,579 31.3
Desert and Oasis 1,102 5.8 118 0.3 259 0.3
Total 18,864 100.0 39,451 100.0 75,257* 100.0
Note: The number of hotel rooms comes from Governorate Net. On the other hand the number of accommodation rooms
in 1997 in the Table 1.5.1 comes from “Egyptian Tourism in Figure 1997”. This is why there is some difference
between the two figures.
Source: Egyptian Tourism 1982-1996 by MOT, Egypt Tourism in Figures 1993 by MOT, Governorate Net

(2) Travel agent and tourism establishments

There are three categories of travel agents according to type of duties performed. Category A
can issue tickets and handle transportation services. Category B only issues tickets, while
Category C takes care of transportation services. In 1997, there were 678, 50 and 115 of each
category respectively.
As defined by the Ministry of Tourism, a tourist establishment is a restaurant, cafeteria or place
of entertainment. 60% of tourist establishments, mostly restaurants or cafeterias, are located in
the Cairo Tourism Region.

Table 1.5.4 Number of Tourist Establishments by Tourism Region in 1997

Tourism Region Number
Cairo 612
Nile Valley 65
Mediterranean 284
Red Sea 53
Desert & Oasis 0
Total 1014
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures 1997

(3) Public tourism facilities

Historical sites and museums
There are few amenities, for example visitors’ center kiosk and shelter, to protect visitors from
the elements. Especially in the summer, visitors stand for long hours under the heat of the sun.
There is also lack of material on historical sites printed in major languages, which makes it
difficult for international visitors without a guide to fully appreciate the attractions.
Museums built in recent years, such as Nubian Museum and Luxor Museum, have excellent
quality and quantity of exhibits, but information about them is limited. Similarly, museums of
historical significance, such as the National Museum, have an abundance of display but lack
printed information although it attracts many of visitors every day.
Tourist information center
The Egyptian Tourism Authority is in charge of operation of tourist information centers located
in the principal cities of governorates (27 offices). The major functions of tourist information
centers are promotion of Egyptian tourism, coordination of the different tourism departments in
each governorate, and support to overseas information centers, especially those with low

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performance ratings.
At the St. Catherine and Ras Mohanmmed in Sinai Peninsula, a visitor ’s center, which
is operated by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs, is located nearby parking facilities. At
the center, visitors could easily get information about the natural and social environment of St.
Catherine’s area.
More close coordination is required among the agencies concerned for tourism development
and promotion of Egypt in order to make the tourist information center effectively serve to the
visitors, which are authentic roles of the center.
Public toilet
The public toilets in park facilities and museums are well maintained, but their number is
inadequate during peak tourist season.
Other facilities
Conference hall: CICC is the only public conference facility. Other requirements are covered
by private sector. Almost 5 star hotels have such function.
Berth facility: Berthing facilities satisfying necessary functions such as drink water inlet,
sewerage outlet, solid waste disposal, etc., are much short in Nile River for the its cruise. It is
urged to construct new berths and improve the existing berths to avoid more pollution of the
river water.

1.5.2 Overview of Tourism Facilities Development Plan

(1) Accommodation development plans and projects by TDA
The Tourism Development Authority and the Ministry of Tourism have set their target tourist
numbers, bed nights and required accommodation in The Strategy of the Tourism Sector for the
fourth (1997/98-2001/2002), fifth (2002/2003-2006/2007) and sixth (2007/2008-2011/2012)
five-year development plans. It is reported that 390,000 rooms would be needed until 2011/12.
In 1995, the accommodation capacity in Egypt was estimated at 65,000 rooms, and 10,000
more were under construction. Therefore, the additional accommodation requirement by
2011/12 is
315,000, and the necessary investment costs for development will reach LE 76 billion.

Table 1.5.5 Target Number of Visitor Arrivals, Bed Nights and Required Accommodation
2002 2007 2012
Number of visitor arrivals (thousand) 5,800 9,400 15,000
Bed nights (thousand) 40,600 75,200 129,000
Length of stay (days) 7 8 8.6
Accompany rate 1.5 1.5 1.5
Occupancy rate (percent) 60 60 60
Required number of hotel rooms 73,083 101,112 140,805
Investment costs (superstructure and Infrastructure)
17,623 24,405 33,972
(LE million)
Source: The Strategy of the Tourism Sector by Ministry of Tourism in 1996

As for distribution of accommodation, the Red Sea Tourism Region is expected to play an
important role. In the future, it would have a 50% to 65% share compared to just 30% in 1997.
(2) Other governmental plans
The Strategy of the Tourism Sector also indicated investment projects and costs for the
Ministry of Tourism, Egyptian Tourism Authority and Cairo International Conference Center
during the three 5-year development plans. The MOT would handle the beautification of
tourist areas, construction and improvement of tourist rest houses, etc., costing LE 181
million. The ETA

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would take charge of development of tourist centers, establishment and improvement of tourist
information centers, improvement of tourist bureaus abroad, and construction of the
headquarters building, which will cost LE 120 million in total. Lastly, CICC would be
responsible for development and renovation/rehabilitation of conference facilities, amount ing
to LE 299 million until 2012.
As for other developments, Luxor City plans to seek financial support to develop a new
berthing facility along the east side of the bridge, which is located south of Luxor City.
Aswan also recognizes the need to expand its existing berthing facilities in the future.

1.5.3 Business and Investment Environment

JICA Study Team conducted a business environment/investment survey through subcontractor.
The survey was based on questionnaire distributed to 52 companies and institutions, which
consist of five banks, one private and two public institutions for tourism promotion and 44
tourism related companies (16 hotels and resorts, 13 contractors, and 15 tour operators/tour
agents). The opinion of tourism related companies about business environment/investment
environment are summarised as follows;
Followings are serious reasons which prevent vivid business activity/investment activity; regulations and
complicated public procedure, lack of institutions and laws, tax administration, difficulty of fund procurement
and lack of human resource, difficulty of labour management and lack of infrastructure. Improvements related
to public sectors are highly ranked.

Almost companies are satisfied with the return of business activity/investment activity, and 60% of them plan
to expand business activity in Egypt.

70% of them gather information from Tourism Development Authority when they start/expand business
activity. Investment promotion organisation/agencies (to foreign investment countries) in foreign countries,
General Authority for investment and free zones (GAFI) and Egyptian Banks follow it. 70% of
companies/institutes agree that information from TDA is the most effective in the information supply
institutions/agencies in Egypt.

As for target visitor arrivals, 30% of companies/institutes said Western European people are the main target.
Next target is Egyptian and visitors from Middle East. Eastern Europe and Russia ranked fourth.
Company/institution which aim to visitors from Asia and pacific is only one out of 43 companies/institutes.

Companies expect to get turnover of investment in a short time. More than three forth companies expect to
get turnovers in four years from the beginning of the new investment.

On the other hand, all banks subcontractor had interviews have financed and continue to
finance for tourism related projects. Although the banks consider tourism to be a higher risk
industry compared to another industry, all the banks said they continue to finance for tourism
sector by project basis. They also indicated that the rate of return on tourism projects is overall
what they expect, but this covers a wide range of variation, with some projects paying back
capital ahead of schedule, while others fall behind. In times of crisis for the tourism sector,
such as after the Luxor incident in 1997, they had to reschedule some of their loans to help their
clients overcome this crisis, but that again some clients were more able to recover than others
were.
Subcontractor surveyed two public institutions that promote investment in tourism in Egypt,
GAFI and TDA. GAFI’s role is to promote investment in Egypt, and is not specialised in the
tourism sector. According to GAFI’s data, 797 companies in the tourism sector had been
established by December 1998, with a total investment cost of L.E. 38,977 million. Of these
companies, 39 companies were established in Luxor and Aswan, and 241 in the Red Sea. The
Red Sea governorate has the highest number of established companies followed by Cairo and
Southern Sinai, with Upper Egypt a distant fourth contender. This is in line with the
information obtained from the banks on the distribution of investment. The data obtained from
GAFI also shows that investment in tourism has increased markedly over the past two years,
with 455 companies out of the total of 797 having been established in 1997 and 1998. TDA is
responsible for providing investors with detailed information on investment in all areas of the
country, and

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most companies rely on it for information as input into their investment decisions. It looks that
TDA’s promotion method is to prepare for booklets which attract investments to new tourism
development area and to distribute it for investors. But investors who have much relation with
TDA seem to be able to have informal information.

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1.6 Transportation

1.6.1 Major Transportation Mode for International Visitor

Figure 1.6.1 shows the travel pattern of major international visitors in Italy, Germany, France,
United Kingdom, United States and Japan. It is prepared by the analyses of tour pamphlets of
each country. It means that travel patterns of individual visitor are not included, and visitors’
actual needs are also not included in the figure. But it can show visitor s’ movement methods
in Egypt.
Air transportation and ship transportation in the Nile River have important role in visitors’
movement. They run north and south of Egypt, while land transportation has limited role of
connecting destinations east and west.

Figure 1.6.1 Travel Pattern of International Visitor

Alexandria

Alamein Wadi el Natrun

Suez/Iamailia

St. Catherine

Eilat (Israel)
Nuweiba

Cairo

Dahab

Siwa

Bahariya

Giza
S aqqara
Abydos
Dendera

Luxor

Hurgh ada

Safaga

Sharm el Sheikh

Kharga

A swan
Esna
Edfu
Kom Ombo

Lege nd

A ir Transportation (Major route) A ir Transportation

Land Transportation (Major route)

Land Transportation

Source: JICA Study Team

Abu Simbel
S hip Transportation (Major route) S hip Transportation
Destination with Airport
M ajor tourist attractions

1.6.2 Air transportation

Though there are 18 is classified in 3 kinds of airport (Prime/major international airport,
Secondary/other international airport and Domestic airport) by Egyptian Civil Aviation
Authority, 14 airports were being operated in 1997 according to its annual statistical report.
In 1997, there were around 73,000 international flights, and they carried 8.4 million air
passengers from and to Egypt. The counted international air passengers were almost shared by
3.96 million international visitors arrivals (7.92 million passenger demands) in the year.
Non-scheduled flights carried 2.64 million passengers, which are one third of passenger
demands of total international visitors to Egypt. Scheduled flights carried remaining 5.28
million passenger demands of international visitors to Egypt.

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Almost of international flights used the 6 major international airports of Cairo, Alexandria,
Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan and Sharm el Sheikh. Around 90% of scheduled international flights
used Cairo Airport. Non-scheduled international flights mainly used Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor
and Sharm el Sheikh international airports.
Domestic flights and air passengers were also concentrated to the 6 major international airports
and Abu Simbel airport.

Table 1.6.1 Number of Flight by Major Airport in 1997

International Total Flight
Airports Domestic
Scheduled Non-scheduled Number Share (%)
Cairo 44,112 6,983 18,469 69,564 49.6
Alexandria 2,509 522 3,449 6,480 4.6
Hurghada 1,003 6,626 7,258 14,887 10.6
Luxor 1,028 5,162 11,311 17,501 12.5
Aswan 14 691 9,598 10,303 7.4
Sharm el Sheikh 293 3,955 5,734 9,982 7.1
Asyut 26 2 32 60 0.0
Taba 0 179 197 376 0.3
St. Catherine 0 0 136 136 0.1
El Arish 37 242 67 346 0.2
Abu Simbel 0 0 5,337 5,337 3.8
New Valley 0 0 706 706 0.5
Matruh 0 0 290 290 0.2
Port Side 0 0 4,178 4,178 3.0
Total 49,022 24,362 66,762 140,146 100.0
Share (%) 35.0 17.4 47.6 100.0
Source: Annual Statistical Report 1997 by Egypt Civil Aviation Authority in 1997

Table 1.6.2 Number of Passengers by Major Airport in 1997

International Total Passenger
Airport Domestic
Scheduled Non-scheduled Number Share (%)
Cairo 5,307,410 493,321 1,927,091 7,727,822 56.1
Alexandria 225,733 45,192 48,606 319,531 2.3
Hurghada 116,394 841,559 509,780 1,467,733 10.7
Luxor 147,323 699,797 1,144,610 1,991,730 14.5
Aswan 810 37,250 785,826 823,886 6.0
Sharm el Sheikh 42,721 499,042 439,817 981,580 7.1
Asyut 2,497 151 2,433 5,081 0.0
Taba 0 15,936 6,970 22,906 0.2
St. Catherine 0 0 1,821 1,821 0.0
El Arish 2,284 7,314 1,143 10,741 0.1
Abu Simbel 0 0 372,084 372,084 2.7
New Valley 0 0 11,260 11,260 0.1
Matruh 0 0 1,927 1,927 0.0
Port Side 0 0 25,470 25,470 0.2
Total 5,845,172 2,639,562 5,278,838 13,763,572 100.0
Share (%) 42.5 19.2 38.4 100.0
Source: Annual Statistical Report 1997 by Egypt Civil Aviation Authority in 1997

The Cairo Airport managed and operated by Cairo Airport Authority, has been the hub airport
of Egypt since it opened in 1963. The number of domestic and international passengers who
used the airport in 1997 reached 7.73 million, or 56% of the total passengers in Egypt. In
addition,

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the number of arrival and departure flights, both domestic and international, was approximately
93,600. It is the largest airport in the Middle East, and has three 3,000 to 4,000meter runways
for international flights and four runways, which could accommodate A-300-class airplanes,
for domestic flights. The airport is not only used for civil aviation, but also for military
purpose.
In consideration of the increasing number of visitors in the future, the Government of Egypt is
planning to expand existing airports and build new airports. The government is also planning
to expand and build these airports by BOT scheme. Currently, 6 new airports are planned, and
four of them have already been under construction. The other two are looking for investors. In
the future, additional two airports will be built along the Red Sea by BOT scheme.
Four airport projects under construction by BOT: Marsa Alam (Red Sea), Farafra (Western Desert), Bahariya
(Western Desert), El Alamein (Mediterranean);

Two airport projects announced by BOT: Ras Sudr (Red Sea), Ain Sukhna (Red Sea); and

Two future airport projects scheduled by BOT: Ras Banas (Red Sea), Halaib (Red Sea)

Figure 1.6.2 Major Airports in

Egypt
Matruh

Alexandria

Port-Said

E l A rish

Alamein

Cairo

Ras Sudr

Taba

Bahariya
Ain Sukhna

St. Catherine
Sharm el Sheikh

Farafra
Asyut
Hurdaga

New Valley
Luxor
Marsa Alam

Legend
International airports
Dom estic airports
Airports (Under construction)
Airports (Planned)

Abu Simbel
Aswan
Berenice

Halaib

Note: Classification of airports is based on the Annual Statistical Report 1997.

Source: JICA Study Team

1.6.3 Road Transportation

Road transportation is not used for long distance transportation for international group visitors.
Almost road transportation need for them is intra-city transportation and inter-city
transportation which has not a long distance for international visitors.
Generally road condition in Egypt is good. In 1992, Egypt’s inter-city road network was
approximately 14,028 km, of which 1,319 km, belonged to local governments, and the rest
were under the jurisdiction of the Road and Bridge Authority (RBA). A majority (87%) of
inter-city highways were characterized as two-way, two-lane, of which 40% were sub-standard
with less than 7.5m widths; 12% and 1% were four-lane and six-lane divided highway
respectively. The pavement condition of about 16% of the road network was poor, while
84% was in fair to

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excellent condition. The condition of the shoulder pavement was poorer than the driveway
condition; 56% was unpaved while 44% was paved, of which only 31% was in good condition.
But traffic congestions seldom occur in large cities such as Cairo, Alexandria. The shortage of
parking space is one of reasons why such traffic congestions occur. Some improvements such
as developments of parking spaces and bypass road are required.
When visitors travel from Cairo to Saqqara and from Luxor to Dendera, they are seldom caught
in a jam because of narrow road width. In such roads upgrading is needed in accordance with
the increase of visitor arrivals. In Red Sea Region, in which a large scale of accommodation
development is planned, improvement and upgrading are also needed in accordance with the
increase of visitor arrivals.
For international independent visitors, long distance bus network can offer a good
transportation method. It has services network where train transportation has not service such
as Western Desert, Eastern Desert and Sinai Peninsula. Although it takes much time compared
with another transportation mode such as air transportation, it costs very low.
But for international visitor, it is difficult to use the bus network because of limited
information. In accordance with the diversification of tourist products, such a situation has to be
resolved.

1.6.4 Railway Transportation

The railway network of Egyptian National Railway (ENR) consists of 43 lines/segments, as of
October 1996. Total length of lines is approximately 4,401 km, including 19 km and 1,320 km
of four-track and double-track lines respectively. More than 30% of the lines/segments have
been developed as double or four-track lines.
The ENR lines are classified into three types by train speed and/or passing tonnage as listed
Table 1.6.3. First class lines are listed in Table 1.6.4.

Table 1.6.3 Types of ENR

Lines
Class Length (km) Number of Lines and Segments Remark
1st 1,403 6 Line No. 1 - 6
2nd 787 11 Line No. 7 - 17
3rd 2,211 26
Total 4,401 43
Source: The Master Plan Study for Egyptian National Railways (JICA study, 1996)

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Table 1.6.4 List of First Class Lines

No. Name of Line Length (km) Remarks
1 Cairo - Alexandria 209 Including 19 km of 4-track line
2 Cairo - El Sad El Ali 898
3 Benha - Port Said 191
4 Tanta - El Mansoura 54
5 Abis - Ras El Ten 10
6 Helwan - El Marg 41
Total 1,403
Source: The Master Plan Study for Egyptian National Railways by Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1996

Though train transportation has not developed as transportation mode for international group
visitors, express trains and limited express trains which connect Cairo to Aswan, and Cairo to
Alexandria are useful for international independent visitors. It costs much cheaper than air
transportation and passenger can enjoy the scenery seen from train windows although it takes
more time than air transportation. Wagons Lits Egypt, which is foreign owned company, runs
limited express train with sleeping cars between Cairo to Aswan.
In general it is difficult to reserve seat or bed of these trains. Information about them is limited
and reservation system has not developed enough yet. And more cities in Middle Nile such as
Asyut had security problem before.
In order to develop train transportation as transportation mode for international visitors, such
issues have to be proved.

1.6.5 Major Issues on Transportation Network and Services

Transportation network is generally identified one of most important tourism infrastructure,
which can be called basic tourism infrastructure such as foods, accommodation and
transportation. The expansion of capacities on each transportation facilities and upgrading of
transportation service are indispensable measures to realize the national tourism development
target in 2012.
(1) Issues on airport development
Developments and expansion of airport facilities have to be implemented to cater a
dramatically increasing international tourist. Details are described below:
The target of 15 million international visitor arrivals, which is planned by MOT, will require around 500
international flights with more than 120,000 passengers per day. Increases of the capacity of Cairo Airport,
Luxor Airport, Aswan Airport, Sharm el Sheikh Airport Hurghada Airport are needed in the future.

Especially more than 65% of total accommodations are distributed in the Red Sea Region, as indicated in The
Strategy of the Tourism Sector by MOT. It will generate more than 400 international flights with over 100,000
passenger demands during peak day. Enhancement of Sharm el Sheikh Airport and Hurghada Airport, and
development of Marsa Alam Airport, coordinating with accommodation development in the surroundings are
needed.

Cairo Airport will continue to work as the only gateway for most of international visitors. The Construction of
the third terminal should be implemented in accordance with the development plans.

Extension of the terminal building at Luxor Airport should be implemented in accordance with the
development plan. Though airport facilities at Aswan Airport are new and have enough capacity, a separation
of military use has to be considered in the future.

International visitors will visit more than one Tourism Regions, which will also require a appropriate domestic
air transport services and terminal facilities development until target year of 2012.

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(2) Issues on road transportation

Road network improvements and developments will be required in inter -city network in order
to provide and improve accessibility of destinations and to utilize potential tourism resources.
Especially the traffic congestion in Cairo, the most important gateway in Egypt, should be
solved. And more, because accommodation development in Red Sea and South Sinai will bring
about traffic congestions in city area, developments of bypass road and improvements of
junction will be needed there in the future.
When international visitors move to destination by tourist bus they have to form a convoy for
security. Social stability and appropriate security measures will be required to realize the
national tourism development target.
(3) Issues on railway transportation
At present, railway could not take major transport function for international visitors for the
following reasons,
Coach train is not so clean and not appropriate for international visitors;

Security problem in Middle Nile (Asyut);

Train operation is not so frequent and not clear; and

Seat reservation system is not appropriately easy for international visitor.

Rail transport service will be improved and upgraded to utilize for international and Egyptian
visitors, which will create big potentials of railway tourism demand in the future.

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1.7 Environment

1.7.1 Legislative and Institutional Framework related to Environmental Protection

The legislative and institutional framework related to environmental protection and
environmental impact assessment (EIA) system for tourism development project in Egypt can
be briefly summarized as follows.
(1) National constitution
The Egyptian Constitution, which was promulgated on September 11, 1971 and modified in
1980, does not refer directly to the environment. However, it obligates the Government to
protect the people’s rights to a good living environment and to provide the Egyptian population
with welfare services.
(2) Decrees, laws and regulations
Decree No. 631/1982
In 1982, Presidential Decree No. 631/1982 established an environmental authority. This move
demonstrated the government’s recognition of the necessity of a cross-sectoral governmental
authority in the field of environmental protection, and promoted environmental concerns to the
level of national interest.
Law No. 4/1994
In 1994, the Egyptian Government promulgated Public Law No. 4 to strengthen environmental
administration, protection and development activities in Egypt. This is Egypt’s first modern
and comprehensive law regulating the environment as a whole, including air, water, land, living
creatures and human activities.
In accordance with this law, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority (EEAA) was
established in 1994 as the competent authority in charge of environmental protection in Egypt,
replacing the former Environmental Agency established by Presidential Decree No. 631. This
law calls for the establishment of an environmental protection fund and a system of incentives
to encourage the protection of the environment.
Decree No. 338/1995
Law No. 4/1994 and its executive regulation (Decree no. 338/1995) gives the EEAA full
authority to implement the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of selected projects.
Others
Table 1.7.1 is a list of other laws, decrees and regulations related to environment in Egypt.

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Table 1.7.1 List of Other Environmental Laws, Decrees and Regulations

Laws, Decrees and Regulations Contents
Decree No. 8/1983 Protection of the Nile River & waterways against pollution Implementing some
Decree No. 106/1983 provisions of Law No. 102/1983 concerning natural reserves The executive
Decree No. 338/1995 statutes of Law on Environment as enacted by Law No. 4/1994
Decree No. 349/1979 Establishment of Egyptian Organization for Wild Life Protection
Decree No. 470/1971 Norms of atmospheric pollution in establishments and industrial subordinated units
Presidential Decree No. Concerning drainage of liquid wastes
93/1962
Presidential Decree No. Management of drinking operations
748/1957
Ministerial Decree No. 649/1962 The executive regulations of Law No. 93/1962 on the drainage of liquid waste
Law No. 4/1984 (Article 28) Prohibiting animal hunting
Law No. 12/1984 Irrigation & water circulation
Law No. 27/1978 General resources of water suitable for drinking & human use
Law No. 48/1982 Re-protection of the River Nile & waterways against pollution
Law No. 53/1966 Protection of birds and wild life (Article 3)
Law No. 93/1962 Liquid wastes disposal
Law No. 101/1985 Fund for environmental and tourism development
Law No. 5711978 On elimination of pools and swamps and prevention of digging works
Source: Information and Decision Support Center, in 1999

(3) Natural protectorates

In 1983, the Egyptian Government enacted Law No. 102 concerning the establishment and
management of natural protectorates. At present, a total of 21 natural protectorates exist and 10
protectorates have been proposed nationwide.

Table 1.7.2 Existing Natural Protectorates and Proposed Natural Protectorates

Existing Natural Protectorates Proposed Natural Protectorates
1 Ras Mohamed National Park A El Magharra Protectorate
2 NABQ Protectorate B El Cosaiema Protectorates
3 Abu Galum Protectorate C Shaieb Albanat Protectorate
4 Taba Protectorate D El Farafra Protectorate
5 St. Catherine Protectorate E El Dakhara Protectorate
6 Alahrash Protectorate F Karkar Protectorate
7 Zaranik Protectorate G Donkol Protectorate
8 Astum el Gamil Protectorate H El Galf el Kabir Protectorate
9 Omayed Protectorate I Hamata Protectorate
10 El Maadi Protectorate
11 Hassana Dome National Monument
12 Qarun Protectorate
13 Wadi Alrayan Protectorate
14 Wadi Sannur Cave
15 Wadi Asyuty Protectorate
16 Saluga Ghasal Protectorate
17 Wadi Alaqi Protectorate
18 Elba Protectorate
19 Borollos Protectorate
20 All Islands in Nile River
21 Wadi Degla Protectorate
Note: Marks before each name shows locations in Figure 1.7.1
Source: JICA Study Team

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Figure 1.7.1 Location of Natural Protectorates

19
8 6
7
9

B
11 10
A
12
21 4
13
14 3
5
2

15 1
D
C

20 I
16
F
G
H
18
17

Note: Figures and characters show name of protectorate. Refer to 1.7.2.

Source: EEAA in 1999

(4) Environmental impact assessment system in Egypt

Legislative Background
Law No. 4/1994 has formulated the official procedures of the EIA system in Egypt. An
important aspect of the executive regulations is the new licensing requirement related to the
EIA. The executive regulations provide a list of specific companies and establishments which
has to obtain an environmental approval as part of the licensing procedures from the related
administrative authority to carry out a project which might impact on the environment. The list
includes industrial facilities, tourism projects, companies operating in the oil and gas sector,
power generating facilities, mines and quarries, infrastructure projects and other projects which
could have an impact on the environment. Also included in this list are all establishments or
facilities to be constructed on the banks of the Nile River, its branches and canals; in tourist and
historical monument areas; in high population density areas; on sea and lake shores, in protected
areas, etc.
The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority (EEAA) has prepared guidelines on the EIA
procedure. Establishments and projects that are required to conduct the EIA are listed in the
guidelines as well. As for the coastal area, the EEAA prepared the “Environmental Guidelines
for Development in the Coastal Areas” in 1996, the “Environmental Impact Assessment,
Guidelines for Development of Ports, Harbors and Marines”, etc.
Institutional Framework of the EIA
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority (EEAA): As mentioned above, Law 4/1994 and
Decree No. 338/1995 have given the EEAA full authority to implement the EIA. Under the
Executive Director (Vice Chairman) of the EEAA, this authority consists of the following two
sectors:
Environmental Quality Sector, and

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Environmental Management Sector.

In the Environmental Management Sector, there is the Central Directorate of EIA that has all
the responsibility for appraisal of EIA in Egypt.
Environmental Department in TDA: According to Law No. 4/1994, all new projects or
extensions of existing projects are required to prepare and submit an EIA report, together with
an application to the licensing authority, such as Tourism Development Authority or other
authorities, ministries and government entities.
The Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, General Authority of Investment, General
Authority for Agricultural Development, and others, which deal with large- scale projects, have
an environmental affairs related office or department to enforce EIA studies.
The office or directorate refers potential investors and developers to the Central Directorate of
EIA in the EEAA to conduct the EIA study before they obtain the approval for their
project.
The EEAA works closely with the Tourism Development Authority (TDA), developers and
design professionals at the conceptual stage of each new tourism development in order to
influence and provide technical inputs to design and environmental protection measures.
In the TDA, an Environment Department has been organized under the Directorate of Tourist
Area Development. This department advises the proponent of a project in the conduct of EIA
study, and submits the EIA report to EEAA for their approval. It has also launched the
following tourism development program and other related activities:
Environmental survey and inventory work for tourism development regions (site analysis);

Environmental assessment of conceptual tourism development plans (environmental screening);

Conserving unique cultural and natural resources for development;

Developing urban and tourism work from the socio-environmental point of view, TDA has planned,
constructed and monitored two major projects in the Gulf of Aqaba, the “Bedouin” Center and the
Environmental Center;

Special studies of local and immigrated birds ecology and (spa) tourism to verify tourism products, in
cooperation with USAID;

Preparation of environmental guidelines, regulations and management plans for tourism development areas, in
cooperation with EEAA;

Review and evaluation of the EIA of private projects submitted to TDA for approval, together with EEAA;

Environmental awareness program for investors (conferences, publications, discussions, etc.), in cooperation
with EEAA; and

Flood studies and protection works in Gulf of Aqaba (South of Sinai) and the Red Sea Region to help the
investors in the development process.

1.7.2 Environmental Condition

(1) Solid waste
In the tourism areas and historical spots, solid waste is primarily collected using handcarts.
Although relatively well managed, an accumulation of solid waste has been observed in those
areas, including residential areas.
In the desert, light domestic waste, such as plastic bags, are scattered by the wind and get
hooked on shrubs or accumulate in the hollows of a “Wadi”. Open burning of solid waste is
often practiced in the desert and other places, and this could generate toxic chemical
substances, such as PCDDs (Polychlorinated-dibenzo-para-dioxins).

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In addition to the domestic waste, industrial waste and construction debris are disposed of and
dumped in development areas and the surrounding desert.
Generally, solid wastes from residential areas, industrial facilities, hotels and resorts are
managed according to the area where they are generated. To comply with the Environmental
Law No. 4/1994, most industries are taking some measures to set up solid waste treatment
facilities.
A number of private companies have been contracted to collect domestic solid waste. As
primary collection, several private individuals collect waste by the use of handcarts. Domestic
waste is then sorted, and recyclable waste is segregated. Packaging materials are sold to
dealers for further processing and recycling. After sorting, most of the remaining waste is
fed to animals.
The Central Government is encouraging the local governorates to set up post-treatment
facilities for solid waste. The Government has committed to set up 50 composting plants so far
and 30 of them have been constructed in Upper Egypt. The designed treatment capacity of
each plant is about 500 tons/day.
(2) Fluctuation of ground water level
In Luxor and Aswan, the rising of ground water level has grown remarkable in recent years.
This is a potential environmental hazard from the viewpoint of conserving the ruins and
historical assets, and the ecosystem in Luxor and Aswan.
(3) Air pollution
Many large- and middle-sized buses for tourist transportation and travel are operated in the
tourism areas and historical spots. Taxicabs are also available but most of them are old models.
An increase of visitors will result in the increased use of public transportation, which in turn
will raise the level of gas emission, including NOx, SOx, SPM (suspended particulate matter),
etc., thereby worsening the quality of the surrounding air.
Most of the ruins and other historical assets are situated in an open environment, without any
roof or walls. Consequently, they are directly affected by the negative impacts brought about
by the emitted gases and vibrations from vehicular traffic. In addition, there is the natural
erosion of ruins and assets, which is caused by wind, humidity, temperature, solar radiation,
etc.
Leaded fuel is still used in Egypt. However, the Study Team has observed during one of their
field trips a campaign for use of unleaded fuel at a gasoline station. In due course, a positive
policy and trend is expected to emerge on the use of unleaded fuel, taking into account the
health of the people and the protection of the environment.
(4) Water pollution
According to officials in Aswan and Luxor, a trickling filter and oxidation pond comprise the
major wastewater treatment plant in these governorates. Initial observations indicate that the
degree of water turbidity of the Nile River along the tourism areas of Luxor and Aswan is
relatively low. No offensive odor is identified from the Nile River along these areas. However,
some solid waste and water hyacinth are observed floating on the river around an anchorage for
boats. It might be assumed that the water quality in those areas would have high concentrations
of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) load.
On the one hand, in the Red Sea coastal area, some resort hotels operate their own seawater
desalination plant for their water consumption, and a wastewater treatment plant for their
sewage water. The treated wastewater is then utilized for various purposes, including
agricultural use and golf course maintenance, and the treated sludge is used as soil conditioner.
However, operation of these activities on a large scale is a potential threat to the ecological
balance of the surrounding environment.

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(5) Biodata
Red Sea is one of the richest coral habitats on earth, and it has a very diverse ecosystem,
especially cyanophyceae, tropical fishes and others. According to a group of scientists at Duke
st
University and others (New Scientist, 1 July 1999, UK), the drought in the Sahara Desert has
increased the amount of dust in the air, and the dust has scattered all over the world, often
serving as the vector of some viruses and fungi which can damage corals (Press release).
Several natural communities of mangrove forest are observed in the surrounding areas of
Marsa
Alam and the southern part of Sinai Peninsula.
In addition to the coastal area, unique and diverse fauna and flora in the desert area have been
reported by a number of publications. As a matter of fact, several interesting birds, lizards,
insects, shrub trees and plants have been identified in and around the ‘Wadi’ area of the desert.
Generally, the increase in population of divers and visitors, and in construction of tourism
facilities would easily bring negative impacts on the marine and desert biota if there were no
suitable and appropriate countermeasures for preserving them.
(6) Social aspect
Illegal settlements and minority races have been identified in Egypt. Among them are
approximately 13 clans of typical nomads called Bedouin found in the Sinai Peninsula and in
Red Sea. They have a unique culture, lifestyle, land ownership, and traditional concept of land
use, among other things. From the viewpoint of anthropology, it can be considered that there
are several territories among the clans without any physical border lines in the Sinai and other
areas of Egypt.
Considering that the Bedouin themselves have the potential as tourism resource, any tourism
development plan should include special attention and consideration to mitigate any negative
impacts on their lives. For example, Accommodation development in South Sinai caused the
down of ground water level, and Bedouin peoples are suffering from water shortage.
Additionally, even if there were no physical settlement found in a proposed area for tourism
development, the necessary study and survey on the Bedouin should be carried out in
accordance with social environmental consideration before the implementation of a specific
project. On the other hand, the developments of tourism accommodations enable Bedouin
people to be employed as guards of hotels, and they can get money.
Therefore, a tourism development project shall be planned and designed to mitigate possible
negative impacts on these settlements and minority groups.

1.7.3 Major Issues for Sustainable Tourism Development

Tourism in Egypt consists of historical tourism utilizing historical and cultural resources along
the Nile River, and natural tourism utilizing marine resources at the Red Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea, and inland resources of desert and oasis, and urban tourism in Cairo and
Alexandria. The environmental conservation and management system as below should be
established in order to sustain the tourism development utilizing these resources, to preserve the
world and national heritages, and to maintain the balance of preservation and utilization of the
historical and natural heritages.
Reinforcement of zoning system and management system for the preservation and restoration of historical
heritages and for the conservation of historical climate around the heritages;

Reinforcement of zoning system for the conservation of coastal, terrestrial and freshwater environment
executed by the environment related agencies /Establishment of conservation and management system for each
natural resource; and

Reinforcement of EIA enforcement system and its appropriate operation in order to prevent any negative
impacts on natural resources, historical heritages and local communities and to promote sustainable and
harmonized tourism developments.

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1.8 Tourism Services and Human Resource Development

1.8.1 Tourism Services

(1) General
The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), in conjunction with the
Ministry of Tourism, had conducted a Tourism Sample Survey once every two years. The
survey looked into the factors affecting tourist activities and movement. To analyze the issues
on tourism services, the results of the Tourism Sample Survey in 1992, 1994 and 1996 were
used. In accordance with the survey results, the quality of tourism services of Egypt has been
gradually improved, although cleanliness of environment remains as a significant issue in
general. And domestic flights and taxi services are also ranked to dissatisfactory level, which
will be issues for future improvement. The evaluation on the tourism service items in Egypt by
the visitors is shown in Table 1.8.1. The results are similar to the opinion given by the tour
agents at the survey in the major market countries of Europe shown in Table 1.4.20.

Table 1.8.1 Evaluation of Tourist Services

Year 1992 1994 1996 Category
Arrival
Immigration and Customs 1 1 1 Satisfactory
Accommodation
Hotel Tourist 1 1 1 Satisfactory
Village 1 1 1 Satisfactory
Floating Hotel 1 1 1 Satisfactory
Youth Hostel 4 2 2 Medium
Bank 1 1 1 Satisfactory
Eating
Restaurant 2 2 2 Medium
Seeing
Tourist Guide 2 3 3 Unsatisfactory
Transport
Railway 4 3 2 Medium
Domestic Flight 3 3 4 Unsatisfactory
Rented Vehicle 3 2 2 Medium
Bus 4 3 2 Medium
Taxi 5 4 4 Unsatisfactory
Reservation 2 2 2 Medium
Shopping
Souvenir Shop 3 3 3 Unsatisfactory
Antique Shop 3 3 3 Unsatisfactory
Bazaar 3 3 3 Unsatisfactory
General
Attitude of People 2 2 2 Medium
Health Care 5 2 2 Medium
Cleanliness of Environment 5 5 5 Poor
Note: 1 (Satisfactory), 2 (Medium), 3 (Unsatisfactory), 4 (Unsatisfactory), 5 (Poor)
Source: Tourism Sample Survey, 1992, 1994, 1996, CAPMAS and Ministry of Tourism

(2) Tourism services and human factors

In line with the economic transition and the tourism boom, the role and function of the private
sector has become an important and leading factor since the beginning of the 1990s. Tourist
establishments considered satisfactory by visitors, such as hotels, tourist villages, floating
hotels, restaurants, cafeteria, souvenir shops and banks, are all in the hands of the private
sector in

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 alliance with foreign interests like internationally well known hotel management companies.
On the other hand, the tourism element under the public sector evaluated as satisfactory by
visitors is the immigration and customs services at the airport and information supply services
in town as well as care of security on visitors.
The analysis of the tourist sample surveys also showed that the dissatisfaction of visitors could
be traced to two factors. First is the exploitative manner of local business people towards
international visitors in restaurants (except those in hotels managed by foreigners), souvenir
shops, antique shops, bazaars, taxicabs, horse cart, etc. Second is the inefficiency and shortage
of facilities, such as irregular/unreliable operation of railways and domestic flights; mistakes in
reservations; acute shortage of public toilets; low hygiene standard; and garbage.
Improvements in the attitude of local business people and cleanliness of the environment
cannot be realized easily because of the cooperation required between the public agency
concerned and the citizens. Nevertheless, the bigger responsibility rests on the former to lead
and educate the people about these issues.
In accordance with the development of the marine resort tourism, Egyptian people will have to
compete with their competitor more. In addition to it, marine resort tourism tends to be small
profits and quick returns due to the competition with rivals. It is necessary for Egypt not only
to improve the service level but also to reduce it.

1.8.2 Human Resource Development

(1) Employment structure and level of education required
From the viewpoint of tourism service improvement, education and training should be focused
on personnel who provide services directly to the visitors, such as staffs of hotels, restaurants,
tour operators and guides. There are many other fields related to tourist services , such as
transportation, banks, clinics, that requires training and development from the viewpoint of
tourist services.
Although there are many educational institutions of university and secondary levels in Egypt,
personnel requirement in the tourism industry covers a wide range of fields. The most
significant training, however, is practical training with scientific method. The level and type of
education/training should be examined according to type of work.
The following table shows the employment structure of hotels and tourist establishments,
together with the required level of education or training. Since it would be impossible to make
available to all of them full time education in a formal setting, such as university, college,
technical training institute, and so on, short courses, refresher courses, orientation seminars,
should be provided and integrated with formal education.

Table 1.8.2 Employment Structure of Hotels and Tourist Establishments

Accommodation Tourist
Type of work establishment Level of education required
Management & front office 6% - 2 years of college or more
Housekeeping & laundry 17% - 2 years of college or more
Food & beverage 22% 20% 2 years of college or more
Kitchen 14% 20% 2 years of college or more
Steward 6% Not specified
Engineering 12% 60% 2 years of college or more
Others 23% Not specified
Total 100% 100%
establishment
 Source: JICA Study Team

The above table does not indicate the type of work in travel agencies, shops and bazaars,
because the education requirement involves a wide variety in terms of both levels and types. In
addition, there are many institutions providing tourism courses relating to those fields at
present.

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Therefore, this study is targeting specific types of work in accommodation and tourist
establishments.
Tour guides are another important service for historical tourism and eco-tourism. It is a highly
professional trade and guides usually work alone. Intensive training and rather long-term efforts
are required. The education and training are usually provided at the university level. Aside
from language skills and knowledge of history and culture, the hospitality of tour guides is a
most welcome trait. The importance of hospitality could be highlighted in orientation seminars
for tour guides by tourism training institutes.
(2) Training capacity in Egypt
The training capacity on tourism for related industries at the various levels has been examined
from the viewpoint of both level of education and number of students.
University level
The enrolment in the faculty of tourism and hotels has been increasing from approximately
2,000 in 1993 to more than 5,000 students in 1997. It is estimated that enrolment would reach
almost 9,000 in 2001.
There are approximately 2,000 tourism and hotel graduates every year. Out of this number, 600
go to the tour guide business, 800 to tourism services and 600 to hotel management.
Technical institutes:
There are many technical institutes that offer tourism-related courses, such as tourism study,
hotel management and tour guide. There are three categories of technical institutes. The first
one accepts enrolment of students who finish secondary school and the study period is four
years. The number of students studying tourism-related courses is estimated at over 17,000.
The second category of technical institute is similar to the first one, except that the study period
is two years. The number of students enrolled in this type of school is estimated at around
4,000. The third category accepts students who finish preparatory school, and the study period
is five years. The number of students enrolled in this kind of institute is about 4,000, too.
There are approximately 2,700 students who graduate from tourism-related courses at the
technical institutes every year. Out of this, 600 work in tourism services and 2,100 in hotels.
Between 400 to 800 students graduate from vocational school every year.
In total, between 3,000 and 3,500 students graduate from technical institutes.
Comparing to the required training capacity described in the previous section training and
education capacity of tourism related personnel in Egypt is summarized as following:
Training capacity of management class and tour guide is sufficient in terms of number of students' graduate.
Improvement of training curriculum and facilities as well as teaching staff to meet with actual ability required
by the tourism industry.

Training capacity for mid-management level in target type of work (accommodation and tourist establishment)
is not enough. Expansion of training capacity in terms of both facilities and qualities of teaching method.
Especially food and beverage and kitchen are not sufficient in terms of capacity of facilities and teaching staff.

Expand the education and training capacity other than formal full-time course. Refresher course, part time
course, apprenticeship training with crediting system and so on. Provide wide range of training and education
opportunity for all the level of personnel is quite effective for skill improvement.

1.8.3 Major Issues for Tourism Service Improvement and Human Resource Development
Though Egypt is considered as one of the major international tourism destination in the Middle
East, the tourism services in Egypt is not valuated highly except that of accommodation
facilities, banks and passport/customs.

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Especially, cleanliness condition is valuated as poor, and services of domestic air transport,
taxi, shops and the tour guides are valuated as dissatisfactory. The services of restaurants,
railways, car rental, bus, and transport reservations, and hospitality of Egyptians are also not
valuated highly. It is required to improve the quality of tourism services in conjunction with
the capacity expansion, which meet the quantitative increase of foreign visitors.
The existing organizations for tourism related education and training have provided the
personnel to meet the increase of foreign tourist arrivals with an average annual growth rate of
about 7% over the period from 1991 to 1998.
It is targeted that the number of international and Egyptian visitors will increase with an
average annual growth rate of over 10% in future. The following issues have been identified in
order to expand the training capacity and to improve the quality of personnel to meet future
rapid expansion of tourism industry:
Improvement of training curriculum and facilities as well as teaching staff of faculty at university for the
training of management class and tour guides;

Improvement and expansion of capacity of the practical training for middle management class of
accommodation and tourist establishment; and

Expansion of existing training institutes and retraining of employees.

Especially, expansion of capacity of the practical training for middle management class
personnel is urgently necessary.
Besides human resource development described above, the following issues are also identified
in order to improve the quality of tourism services.
Conduct of regular follow-up survey for a continuous approval and ranking of accommodation facilities
including hotels and cruise ships by MOT

Tourism administration such as retraining system corresponded to the approval system of tour guide in each
language

Enlightenment of the people to be hospitable in conjunction with the promotion of international tourism

Improvement of domestic transportation services including that of domestic air transportation in reservation
and operation

Development, promotion and improvement of tourism related industry such as souvenir and restaurant
industries

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1.9 Major Development Issues
The Study Team identified the following five development issues in order to promote the
tourism development and to achieve the tourism development target, based on the previous
chapters including the review of existing development plans and analysis of the existing
conditions concerned with the tourism sector, such as tourism administration and promotion
activities, international tourism market and tourism resources distribution, tourism facility
development, tourism infrastructure development, natural and social environment, and tourism
service and human resource development.
Expansion of international/Egyptian tourism market and extension of length of stays: Development,
diversification, and integration of tourism products;

Improvement of tourism administration and enhancement of promotion activities to establish the new
international tourism market and upgrading the present major markets in Egypt;

Provision of accessibility to destinations and development of transportation facilities for tourism circuits:
Expansion of international and domestic transportation capacity/Diversification and reinforcement of
inter-regional transportation services;

Sustainable tourism development: Introduction of pollution prevention countermeasures, environmental

management and protection measures;

Development of harmonized and matured tourism destinations: Appropriate demarcation and co-ordination of
roles of TDA, other related agencies, and the private sector; and

Tourism service improvement: Development of human resource and tourism related industries.

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2. Development Framework and Priority Areas

2.1 Development Scenario and Framework
It is necessary to provide a clear development scenario in order to determine a phased
development plan for accommodation and infrastructure. In this section, demand forecasts of
international visitor arrivals are treated as development scenarios, considering that tourism
development efforts, such as accommodation and infrastructure development, mostly rely on
them. Three alternative development scenarios are presented herein and a favorable scenario is
selected. And the optimum scenario is determined and accommodation target is set.

2.1.1 World Market Share of Egypt

Table 2.1.1 shows number of international visitor arrivals in Egypt and in the world, their
annual growth rate, and the share of Egypt. Annual growth rates in Egypt went up and
down, from
-21.8% in 1993 to 38.9% although they in the world stayed from 1.2% to 9.1%. The shares of
international visitor arrivals of Egypt are from about 0.46% to 0.63% until the first half of
1990s. Since the latter half of 1990s, the share seemed to go up from 0.55% to 0.73%.
In 1999 the share was the highest figure, 0.730%. It was brought about the increase of short
haul visitor such as Italy and Germany mainly.

Table 2.1.1 Number of International visitor arrivals in Egypt and in the

World

Year International visitor Annual growth International visitor Annual growth Share of Egypt
arrivals (Egypt, thousand) rate (%) arrivals (World, million) rate (%) (%)
1982 1423.3 287.6 0.495
1983 1497.9 5.20 291.6 1.40 0.514
1984 1560.5 4.20 318.2 9.10 0.490
1985 1518.4 -2.70 327.9 3.00 0.463
1986 1311.3 -13.60 339 3.40 0.387
1987 1795 36.90 362.3 6.90 0.495
1988 1969.5 9.70 395 9.00 0.499
1989 2503.4 27.10 426.6 8.00 0.587
1990 2600.1 3.90 458.3 7.40 0.567
1991 2214.3 -14.80 463.6 1.20 0.478
1992 3206.9 44.80 503.1 8.50 0.637
1993 2507.8 -21.80 517.9 2.90 0.484
1994 2582 3.00 544.5 5.10 0.474
1995 3133.5 21.40 563.4 3.50 0.556
1996 3895.9 24.30 597 6.00 0.653
1997 3961.4 1.70 611 2.30 0.648
1998 3453.9 -12.80 625 2.30 0.553
1999 4796.5 38.90 657.5 5.20 0.730
Average 7.09 4.90 0.539
Source: Tourism in Figures annual issues by MOT, Tourism 2020 Vision by WTO in 1997

2.1.2 Scenarios of International Visitor Arrivals

(1) Alternative growth scenarios
The JICA Study Team introduces three alternative scenarios to forecast international visitor
arrivals at Egypt such as; Scenario-1: Market Share Scenario, Scenario-2: Ambitious Growth
Scenario and Scenario-3: Intermediate Growth Scenario.

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Scenario-1: Market Share Scenario

This scenario sets a target that the share of international visitor arrivals at Egypt should keep
7.30%, which is the highest share recorded in 1999 against the world tourism shown by WTO.
The past share should be a clear target to be achieved.
Table 2.1.2 shows the estimations of international visitor arrivals at Egypt and the world
tourism. It will reach to 8.3 million in 2012 according to the estimation with annual growth rate
of 19.0% and the average annual growth rate in the period from 1997 to 2012 of 5.06% should
be achieved.

Table 2.1.2 Target number of International visitor arrivals in the Market Share
Scenario
average annual
Scenario 1997* 2002 2007 2012 growth rate (%)
International tourism in the world 611,000 758,700 932,000 1,139,000 4.24
International visitor arrivals (x 1,000) 3,961.4 5,535.0 6,799.1 8,309.9 5.06
World market share of Egypt (percent) 0.648 0.730 0.730 0.730
Note: * International visitor arrivals in 1997 is actual result.
** Figures of International visitor arrivals in the world are estimated by JICA Study Team
Source: JICA Study Team

Scenario-2: Ambitious Growth Scenario

This scenario is based on the target of “Egypt and 21st Century” as the Strategy of the Tourism
Sector prepared by the Egyptian government, in which 17 million of international visitor
arrivals are targeted in 2017. According to the estimation by the Study Team, it will reach 17
th
million in 2012, the end year of the 6 five years development plan, with an annual average
growth rate of 10.07% in the period.
Table 2.1.3 shows international visitor arrivals in Egypt and the market share of Egypt under
Ambitious Growth Scenario. The market share of international visitor arrivals of Egypt should
increase from 0.648% in 1997 to 1.467% in 2012. It means Egypt has to expand its market
share more than double in 12 years.

Table 2.1.3 Target Number of International Visitor Arrivals under Ambitious Scenario
average annual
Scenario 1997* 2002 2007 2012 growth rate (%)
International tourism in the world 611,000 758,700 932,000 1,139,000 4.24
International visitor arrivals (x 1,000) 3,961.4 6,400.2 10,341.5 16,709.9 10.07
World market share of Egypt (percent) 0.648 0.844 1.110 1.467
Note: International visitor arrivals in 1997 are actual result.
Source: Egypt and 21st Century by the Cabinet of Government of Egypt in 1997, The Strategy of the Tourism Sector by
Ministry of Tourism in 1996

Scenario-3: Intermediate Growth Scenario

This scenario assumes that the market share of Egypt against the world tourism should position
in-between the Market Growth Scenario and Ambitious Growth Scenario, which may be the
lowest and the highest targets respectively.
Table 2.1.4 shows international visitor arrivals and the market share of Egypt in Intermediate
Scenario. It will reach about 12.5 million in 2012 with annual growth ratio of 7.97%. The
share of international visitor arrivals at Egypt against the world tourism should increase
gradually and reach to 1.099% in 2012. It means that approximately 50% of the share should
be expanded from the past highest one.
Figure 2.1.1 shows the performances of three alternative scenarios. The increase in Market
Share Scenario is almost linear in accordance with the growth of international visitor arrivals in
the world. On the other hand, the increase in Ambitious Scenario will increase in a geometric

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progression. The curve of Intermediate Scenario lies on the just middle between the other two
scenarios.

Table 2.1.4 Target Number of International Visitor Arrivals under Intermediate Scenario
average annual
Scenario 1997* 2002 2007 2012 growth rate (%)
International tourism in the world 611,000 758,700 932,000 1,139,000 4.24
International visitor arrivals (x 1,000) 3,961.4 5,969.5 8,572.6 12,512.2 7.97
World market share of Egypt (percent) 0.648 0.787 0.920 1.099
Note: International visitor arrivals in 1997 are actual result.
Source: JICA Study team

Figure 2.1.1 Three Alternative Scenarios of International Visitor Arrivals

Int’l visitor arrivals

( x 1,000)
18,000

16,000

Ambitious Scenario

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

Intermediate Scenario

Market Share Scenario

Source: JICA Study Team

(2) Selection of favorable scenario

The JICA Study Team determined a favorable scenario from the three scenarios explained
above. In the period between 1982 and 1999 the average annual growth rate of international
visitor arrival at Egypt was 7.40% in spite of many and big fluctuations caused by the various
reasons as shown in Figure 1.4.5. The figure is used for the evaluation of each scenario as
a major criterion.
It can be said that Scenario-1 is the easy target to achieve/to have to achieve it, since 5.06% of
the average annual growth is required against the past rate of 7.40% as shown in Table 2.1.1.
For the market share, it is also necessary to achieve the figure as a target with efforts by the all
agencies concerned even it is the highest. It can be said that Scenario-2 is the target too heavy
to achieve it, since 10.07% of the growth rate is required and it should increase approximately
35% from the past one. The market share is also required a tough figure to achieve to expand
more than 2 times of the past highest share in 2012. Scenario-3 is considered in the possible
range to achieve, since the growth rate of 7.97% against 7.04% 0f the past and the market share
should be expanded to approximately 50% of the past share. The Scenario-3 is the
selected as the favorable one.

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(3) Introduction of Optimum Growth Scenario

Although JICA Study team selected Intermediate Growth Scenario as most favorable scenario,
it is recommended to set higher level of target in consideration of the following conditions in
Egypt, but with much efforts paid by the all agencies concerned.
Egypt has world-class tourism resources, and the historical tourism products. It will lead historical tourism in
the world from now on;

New tourism developments such as marine resort tourism in South Sinai and Red Sea are booming for short
haul and middle haul countries. Economic recovery in eastern European countries and Russia enable to create
new market for Egypt;

Security for tourists is assured recently in accordance with weakening activity of Islamic Fundamentalist in
Middle Nile; and

Egyptian economy developed with satisfactory due to structural adjustment policy in 1990s.

In the Optimum Scenario, international visitor arrivals will be 14 million in 2012 with 8.8% of
annual growth rate as set in Figure 2.1.2 and Table 2.1.5.

Table 2.1.5 International Visitor Arrivals under Optimum

Scenario
growth rate (%) average annual
Scenario 1997* 2002 2007 2012
International tourism in the world 611,000 758,700 932,000 1,139,000
4.24
Optimum/recommendable Scenario
International visitor arrivals (x 1,000) 3,961.4 6,400.0 9,600.0 14,000.0 8.78
World market share of Egypt (percent) 0.648 0.844 1.030 1.229
Scenario-3: Intermediate growth scenario
International visitor arrivals (x 1,000) 3,961.4 5,969.5 8,572.6 12,512.2 7.97
World market share of Egypt (percent) 0.648 0.787 0.920 1.099
Difference between Optimum and Scenario-3 0 430.5 1,027.4 1,487.8
Source: JICA Study Team

Figure 2.1.2 Optimum Scenario and Intermediate

Scenario

Int’l visitor arrivals

( x 1,000)

Optimum Scenario

Intermediate Scenario

18,000

16,000

14,000
 12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

Source: JICA Study Team

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2.1.3 Development of Egyptian tourism market

In Egypt, information about Egyptian tourism is limited, and the only data sources for Egyptian
tourist demand forecast are hotel guests in major 6 destinations in Egypt Tourism in Figures by
MOT. In 1998 the number of hotel guests was about 800 thousand, or 13% of total hotel guests
in major 6 destinations. This figure is expected to increase according to the economic
st
development in Egypt. It is projected in Egypt and the 21 Century that by 2017 GDP per
capita will reach US$4,100 from US$1,250 in 1997. The number of Egyptian tourists would
then increase with improvement in the standard of living. On the other hand almost Egyptian
stays not hotel and tourist village but villa and their relation’s house generally, and they don’t
stay at hotel as long as international visitors. This is why the share of Egyptian’s bed night at
hotels in total bed nights will not increased rapidly.
Second line in Table 2.1.6 shows bed nights of international visitors, which is introduced by
international tourist arrivals time average length of stay showed in Table 2.1.5. In 1997, the
share of Egyptian’s bed nights in major 6 destinations was about 12%. JICA Study Team
assumes that it will increase to 17%, which is 5% up, in 2012, and calculated Egyptian’s bed
nights at hotels. The result is shown in third line, and total bed nights are seen the fourth line.
In
2012 Egyptian’s bed nights at hotels will increase to about 23 million with annual growth ratio
of 13.2%, and total bed nights will be about 135 million with the annual growth rate of 10.5%.

Table 2.1.6 Egyptian’s Bed Nights at Hotels

Annual average
1997* 2002 2007 2012 growth rate
Bed nights of international visitors 26,578.8 45,313.0 71,775.7 112,261.3 10.1

Share in total bed nights (percent) 11.9 9.5 10.6 17.0 -

Egyptian’s bed nights at hotels in
major six destinations** 3,591.8 4,754.4 8,477.2 22,966.4 13.2

Total bed nights at hotels in Egypt 30,170.6 50,076.4 80,252.9 135,227.7 10.5
(Unit: thousand)

Note: * Bed nights of international visitors, Egyptian’s bed nights at hotels in major six destinations, and Share in total bed
nights are actual figures.
** Major six destinations mean Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea and South Sinai.
Sources: Egypt Tourism in Figures by MOT, the JICA Study Team

2.1.4 Examination of Accommodation Development Framework

The national accommodation development framework was examined from total bed nights
showed in Table 2.1.7. The following numbers have been set as targets for accommodation
development framework at the beginning. All figures are set according to targets by MOT and
assumptions by the Study Team.

Table 2.1.7 Target Figures for National Accommodation Framework

Hotel Guest 1997 2002 2007 2012 Source
Egypt and 21st
Average length of stay International visitor 6.7* 7.0 7.5 8.0 Century
 The Strategy of
International visitor 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Tourism Sector
Guests per room
Assumption by
Egyptian 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 the Study team
The Strategy of
Occupancy rate Both 60 60 60 60 Tourism Sector
Source: JICA Study Team

st
According to the Egypt and 21 Century, the target average length of stay for international

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tourists would gradually reach 8.6 days in 2017. The Study Team prepare for the assumption
that it will increase 6.7 in 1997 to 8.0 in 2012 from actual result in 1990s and target figure in
2012. The difference of accompany rate between international visitors and Egyptians is shown
in Table 2.1.8. Although the number of international visitors could conform to the national
target, it would be difficult for Egyptians because they usually stay with family in hotels.
Considering the target by MOT and interviews of hotel managers by the Study Team, a 60%
occupancy rate is a suitable target. If occupancy rate were less than 60%, it would be difficult
to continue with hotel operation.

Table 2.1.8 Target Numbers of National Tourist Nights, Tourists and Rooms
Required
Target 1997 2002 2007 2012
International visitors 26,578.8 45,313,0 71,775.7 112,261.3
Bed nights at hotels
(thousand) Egyptian 3,591.8 4,754.4 8,477.2 22,966.4
Total 30,170.6 50,067.4 80,252.9 135,277.7
Number of Rooms 76,000 150,000 240,000 400,000
Source: JICA Study Team

2.1.5 Distribution of Accommodation

Accommodation distribution was determined from information such as current accommodation
development, accommodation development plans, national development plans, and tourism
development potentials in each Tourism Region. Table 2.1.9 shows accommodation
distribution by Tourism Region/Tourism Sub-region in the Study.
In Mediterranean Region, trend of accommodation development and land development was
rapid in the past, which cause land speculation and over accommodation supply in the latter
half of 1990s. Accommodation development in the region will be slow down in order to
balancing the demand and supply. After 2007, increased Egyptian visitor will reactivate
accommodation development.
In Cairo Region, the share of accommodation rooms will decrease from 30% to 20%, which
will be caused by rapid and massive marine tourism development in Red Sea. However,
Cairo Region should keep the appropriate accommodation share, which is 20%, and
qualities until
2012 to maintain the roles of international gateway, capital and metropolitan functions of
Egypt.
In Nail Valley Region, accommodation will be steadily developed by increasing demand of
historical tourists on long, mid and short haul markets in the world.
75% of 74,000 rooms of increment accommodation development target for 2002 are
strategically distributed into Red Sea Region, which are based on the rapid development trends
and the accumulation of on-going projects in the region. The half of 400,000 rooms, which is
target accommodation development in 2012, is strategically distributed to Red Sea as
international marine resort destination, which is based on the assigned strategic locomotive
functions of Red Sea for rapid tourism and economic development in Egypt.
In Desert & Oasis Region, tourism products will debut to soft adventure and eco-tourism
markets in the world after 2002. However, scale and type of tourism development in the region
should take care a fragile eco-system of oasis, capability and availability of water resources and
etc. and niche market development.
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Table 2.1.9 Distribution of Accommodation by Tourism Region/Tourism Sub-region

(Unit: thousand rooms)
Tourism Regions/ 1997 2002 2007 2012
Tourism Sub-regions Number Share Number Share Number Share Number Share
Cairo 23 30.3 28 18.7 45 18.8 75 18.8
Nile Valley 19 25.0 26 17.3 38 15.8 65 16.3
Red Sea 24 30.6 80 53.3 130 54.2 200 50.0
Mediterranean 10 13.2 15 10.0 25 10.4 55 13.8
Desert & Oasis 0 0.0 1 0.7 2 0.8 5 1.3
Total 76 100.0 150 100.0 240 100.0 400 100.0
Source: JICA Study Team

Figure 2.1.3 National Tourism Development Framework (Accommodation distribution)

Mediterranean Sea Region

55,000 rooms

C airo Region
2012 Target

75,000 rooms
10,000 rooms
23,000 room

1997

D esert & O asis Region

5,000 rooms

R ed Sea Region

200,000 rooms

65,000 r ooms

19,000 rooms

Nile Valley Region

24,000 r ooms

Source: JICA Study Team

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2.2 Socioeconomic Impacts

The impact of tourism on the national economy is significant. Direct economic benefits of
tourism include generation of employment, increase of foreign exchange earnings, income
generation and contribution to government revenues. Tourism also provides indirect economic
impacts on the other economic sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, handicraft manufacturing
and construction, which supply the goods and services for tourism sector.
Furthermore, the improvement of transportation and other infrastructure facilities and services
encourage the economic and cultural development of the community in the regional area.
The impacts of tourism sector in the national economy can usually be examined in the
following contexts of economic impact:
Increase of employment opportunities,

Foreign exchange earnings,

Contribution to GDP, and

Increase of government revenues.

Based on the optimum development scenario of tourist arrivals until 2012, the impacts to
tourism are assumed for the target year of 2012 as follows:

2.2.1 Employment
Tourism is a labor-intensive industry and the employment generated by tourism varies widely
among sectors. It creates direct employment in accommodation establishments and indirect
employment in tourism-related industries, such as restaurants, tour operators, shops and bazaars,
guides and transportation. Based on the estimated number of additional rooms of
accommodation, new job creation is estimated for direct and indirect employment until 2012 in
Table 2.2.1 under some assumptions. Until 2012, the target year of master plan, employment for
1.14 million workers is estimated in the tourism sector. On the other hand, 8.25 million new
jobs are required in order to absorb the increasing labor force until 2012 in whole Egypt (Egypt
st
& the 21 Century). Tourism sector will provide 14% of the total new jobs required.
In addition to the above, employment is also stimulated by tourist expenditures such as
manufacturing or primary sector that supply goods and services to tourism sector, and
investment-related employment, such as construction of hotels and infrastructure development.

Table 2.2.1 Additional Employment of Tourism Sector until

2012
In 2012 Assumptions
Additional number of accommodation until 2012 (thousand rooms) 325
Additional direct employment (thousand persons) 488 1.5 employment per room 1)
Additional indirect employment (thousand persons) 650 2.0 employment per room 1)
Total additional employment until 2012 (thousand persons) 1,138
New employment in total sector until 2012 (thousand persons) 8,250 550 thousand per year 2)
Share of tourism (%) 14
Note: 1) Based on the estimation in “The Strategy of the Tourism Sector” by Ministry of Tourism, 2) Based on the estimate
in “Egypt and the 21st Century”
Source: JICA Study Team

2.2.2 Foreign Exchange Earnings

Tourist expenditure of foreign and domestic tourists in 2012 is estimated as shown in Table
2.2.2. Total expenditure will amount to LE 52,900 million in 2012, of which 93.6% and
6.4% are expenditure by international and domestic tourists respectively.

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Table 2.2.2 Tourist Nights and Expenditure in 2012

Number of tourist nights Average expenditure per
(million nights) night Total expenditure
US$ 130 US$ 14,560 million
International tourist 112 (LE 442) (LE 49,500 million)
Domestic tourist 23 LE 170 LE 3,910 million
Total 135 LE 53,410 million
Source: JICA Study Team

Foreign currency earnings from international tourists (US$ 3.6 billion in 1997) will amount to
US$ 15 billion in 2012. It will be increase about four times in 15 years.

2.2.3 Contribution to Gross Domestic Product

The basic input for estimating the economic impact is tourist expenditure. Table 2.2.3 shows
the estimated tourist expenditure by item in 2012.

Table 2.2.3 Tourist Expenditure Structure in

2012
Expenditure items LE million Share (%) Remarks
Hotel expenses 17,625 33 Accommodation, food & beverage
Food & beverage outside hotel 5,875 11
Shopping 9,614 18
Entertainment 10,148 19
Transportation & sightseeing 7,477 14 Excluding international transport
Others 2,671 5
Total 53,410 100
Note: Share of each expenditure item is referred to the results of Tourism Survey in 1994
Source: JICA Study Team

For the evaluation and quantification of tourism effects and its links with the rest of the
economic activities in the national economy, an “Input-Output Table” is a most effective tool,
though there remains the argument about the changes in the coefficients of each sect or in the
future.
Using an Input-Output Table of 1991/92, the contribution of tourist expenditure to the GDP in
2012 is estimated at LE 33.4 billion as shown in Table 2.2.4. This figure is about 4.5% of the
country’s GDP of LE 750 billion in 2012.

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Part I Overview of National Tourism Development

Table 2.2.4 Contribution of Tourism to GDP in 2012

Coefficient of Value
Total output Intermediate added 2)
Sectors in I/O table (LE billion) Expenditure items
input 1) (LE billion)
Whole sale & retailing 9.6 0.190 7.8 Shopping
Hotel expenses and
Restaurants & hotels 23.5 0.556 10.4 food/beverage
Transportation 7.5 0.099 6.7 Transportation & sights seeing
Entertainment & culture services 12.8 0.339 8.5 Entertainment and others
0.371
Total 53.4 33.4
(Average)
Note 1) Input/Output Table, 1991/92, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics,
2) Value added = Total output x (1- Coefficient of intermediate input)
Source: JICA Study Team

2.2.4 Increase of Government Revenues

The contribution to state government revenues is another economic impact of tourism.
Government receives revenues in the forms of income taxes on tourism enterprises and workers
in the tourism sector, sales tax on tourism expenditures, and import duties on goods and
services. Local tax is also imposed on the expenditure of tourists in hotels (2% for
accommodation and food & beverage expenditure).
However, under Law No. 8, the investment projects in Egypt including hotels and tourist
transportation are granted tax holidays for corporate profit, personal income and taxes on
dividends, and customs duties. For hotels and tourism projects, tax exemption incentives are
given for 5 to 10 years.
TDA, as well as the state government, derives income from tourism in the form of current
income by tourism projects. The income of TDA consists of the following incomes from the
Integrated and Limited Projects in TDA areas:
Land sale: US$ 1.00 per 1m2

Land rent

Service and activity income, such as Allocation Expense (2 % of the gross value of land), Contract Expense
(5% of the gross value of land), Preliminary Review Expense (0.1% of investment costs) and Review Expense
of Executive (0.25% of investment cost)

Interest income: 20% of the land price is paid in advance and the rest is paid in 7 equal install ments after a
3-year grace period. Annual interest is 5% for the deferred part of the price.

In the 1998/99 fiscal year, TDA received LE 24 million as current activity income from those
incomes and LE 15 million was transferred to the state government as surplus. Besides TDA,
some authorities and government-owned companies also receive income from tourism activities.
Entrance fees for museums and historical sites are collected by the Supreme Council of
Antiquities, which amounted to LE 160 million in 1996.
Under the Ministry of Public Enterprises, many companies are receiving tourism incomes.
They are EGOTH, Egyptian Hotel Co., MISR Co., Duty Free Shop Co., etc. EGOTH, for
example, receives income from owning and participating in the management of many historical
hotels.

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2.3 Selection of Priority Areas

2.3.1 Selection Procedure

The priority areas for the study will be selected based on existing conditions of Egyptian
tourism on the national level and the tourism development plans of MOT, which are described
in the section1.2, “Tourism Development Plans.”
The procedure of selection is shown below:
STEP 1 Analysis of existing conditions by tourism region
STEP 2 Analysis of development conditions by tourism region
STEP 3 Evaluating potentials of tourism development by tourism region
STEP 4 Selection of priority areas for the study

Figure 2.3.1 Study

Procedure

Designation of five tourism regions

Inventory of existing conditions

STE P 1
Analysis of existing conditions by
Tourism Region/Tourism S ub-region
Inventory of development conditions

STEP 2
Analysis of development conditions by Tourism Region/Tourism Sub- region

STE P 3
Evaluation o f tourism development
potentials by Tourism Sub-region

STE P 4
Selection of priority areas for regional
tourism ma ster plan

Source: JICA Study Team

2.3.2 Analysis of Development Potentials

(1) Analysis of existing conditions (STEP 1)
Existing conditions of Tourism Regions are evaluated by the following five criteria by Tourism
Region as shown in Table 2.3.1:
Tourism resources: Geographic condition and characteristics of tourism resources;

Development maturity: International tourist inflow and number of tourist accommodations;

Tourism market: Origin of international tourists and distribution of hotel classes;

Accessibility: International and local airports; and

Consideration: Population problem, minority, natural and historical environments, and water resources.
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Part I Overview of National Tourism Development

Tourism resources:
The regions of Cairo, the Nile Valley and the Mediterranean have a lot of historical resources
dating back from ancient Egypt, while urban amenities concentrate in Cairo and Alexandria.
The Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions are rich in marine resources.
Development maturity:
In 1997, the Red Sea region received the highest number of tourist arrivals at 1,740 thousand;
coming second was Cairo region at 1,317 thousand. Over the past fifteen years, the increase of
tourist accommodation is extremely high in the Red Sea among the five regions. Number of
rooms increased by almost forty times from 1982 to 1997 at the Red Sea and only doubled for
the same period in Cairo.
3) Tourism market:
Origin of tourists varies among regions. Cairo and the Nile Valley receive middle and long
stay tourists from all over the world. In the Red Sea, European tourists share 76% of the total
tourist arrivals. The Mediterranean region received domestic tourists and had 53% of total
tourist arrivals.
Considering the classification of hotels, 5-star hotels have a share of 48% and 33.5% in Cairo
and the Nile Valley regions respectively. On the other hand, 3-star hotels show the highest
share in the Mediterranean region.
Accessibility:
Every region except the Desert and Oasis regions has international and domestic airports within
the region. In the Desert and Oasis regions, there are three local airports serving scheduled
flights.
Considerations:
The following should be taken into consideration for the selection of priority area:
Contribution of tourism to population diversification from the Nile Valley to the remote areas;

Awareness of minority groups such as Bedouins;

Environmental conservation of marine resources in the Red Sea as well as historical resources in Cairo, the
Nile Valley and Mediterranean regions; and

Capacity of water resources and tourism development.

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Table 2.3.1 Analysis of Existing Conditions by Tourism Region

Mediterranean
Cairo Nile Valley Red Sea Desert & Oasis
Sea
Geographical Nile Delta and
(A) Products
River Zone Coastal Zone Costal Zone Desert Zone
Condition Cities
Tourism Products
Historical Ancient-Islamic Ancient, Modern Coptic - - Folklore
Cultural/Urban Cairo - - Alexandria Desert/Oasis
Nature - Cruise Marine Marine
International Hotel (Cairo) (Luxor + Aswan) (South Sinai, (Alexandria)
Guests to Major Red Sea)
Destinations in 1997
No. of Guests No data
1,317 710 1,740 393
No. of Guest
nights 8,232 3,571 8,210 1,990
Length of Stay 1.7 5.0 4.7 5.1

Share of Hotel
30.0 25.1 13.2 31.3 0.3
Rooms in 1997 (%)

Share of Origin of
Tourists (%)
Egyptian 13.1 17.0 17.5 53.4
No data
Arab 18.6 7.0 1.8 15.9
European 31.8 32.6 76.0 17.9
Others 36.5 43.4 4.7 12.8
Share of hotel Class
in 1997(%)
5star
48.0 33.5 26.0 12.2 0.0
4star
13.3 18.8 22.8 14.8 0.0
3star
21.7 15.1 9.5 37.2 0.0
2star
10.0 13.0 8.0 19.8 80.9
1star
3.2 8.5 2.2 14.9 19.1
Under
Classification 3.8 11.0 31.5 1.0 0.0
Major Airport Cairo Luxor Hurghada Alexandria -
(D) Accessibility

International Aswan Sharm el Sheikh

Taba
Domestic - Abu Simbel St. Catherine Port Said New Valley
Asyut El Arish
Matruh
Considerations
(E) Considerations

Population Over population Over Population Limited Population - Limited Population

Minority - - Bedouins - -
Natural - - Habitat - -
Environment Preservation Preservation Preservation - -
Historical Need Need Need
Nile River Oasis
Environment Nile River Nile River -
Water Source Desalination
Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures 1983 and 1997 by MOT, Governorate Net, and Annual Statistical Report 1997 by ECAA

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Table 2.3.2 Analysis of Development Conditions by Tourism Region

(3) Accommodation
(1) Potential Area set by MOT (2) Infrastructure Development
Development
Tourism
Tourism
Sub-region (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Regions
s
2. Cairo Nile Banks Cairo (M) 11,779
1. Giza Pyramid Giza (M) 7,724
Cairo
4. Herwan
Cairo 7. Kharn El Khariri 75,000
Nile Delta 6. Central Nile Banks 944
Faiyum 9. Faiyum TA 273
Suez Canal 1,878
Middle Nile 16. Nile Valley Menya (P) 787
5. Luxor and El Goma Luxor (A)
18,087
Nile Valley 3. Aswan Aswan (A) 65,000
Upper Nile
Abu Simbel
(P)
Taba (P)
12. Gulf of Aqaba TA Sharm el 10,515 44,830
Sheikh
South Sinai
15. Ras Mohamed TA
19. Ras Sidr TA Ras Sudr (A) 24,717
Red Sea 622 200,000
21. El Ain Sukhna TA Ain Sukhna (A) 18,653
Marsa Alam (C)
11. Hurghada TA Hurghada (A) Ras Banas (S)
Red Sea 12,521 92,907
Halaib (S)
13. Red Sea TA Ras Banas (P)
North Sinai 14. El Arish TA Ras el Hekma 1,892 300
8. El Montazah Alexandria (M) 3,675
Alexandria
Mediter- 20. Rashid 985
55,000
anean Sea 18. Matruh TA 3,395 3,680
Matruh 17. Ras El Hekma TA
10. Sidi Abel Rahman TA Alamein (C)
Baharya (C)
Desert & Siwa 22. Siwa SA Siwa (P) 259
Farafra C) 5,000
Oasis
New Valley SA
Note: (a) Designation of Tourism Development Area by MOT in 1997, (b) Priority Zones of Tourism Development by TDA in
1997,(c) Alternative Tourism Special Strategy for Tourism Development by MOT in 1996, (d) Land Use Map of Egypt in
1997
In row (e), (M) means Main Tourist Centers, (A) means Active Tourist Centers and (P) means Promising Tourist Centers
In row (f), (C) means construction, (A) means announcement and (S) means scheduled.
Source: JICA Study Team

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(2) Analysis of development conditions (STEP 2)

Table 2.3.2 shows the future development conditions, which have been set forth by government,
by Tourism Region and Sub-region, including tourism infrastructure and accommodation
development.
Designation of tourism development areas by MOT
In 1978 the Ministry of Tourism selected the priority development areas for the first time in the
nation-wide tourism development. Thereafter, priority areas have been designated several
times by MOT. In Table 2.3.2, the tourism potential areas, which have been designated in the
latest development plans of MOT, are identified. The Nile Valley, the Red Sea Regions and
Matruh Sub-region of Mediterranean region show high development potential in those plans.
Tendency of tourism development and infrastructure development
In the 1996 “Alternative Spatial Strategy for Tourism Development,” MOT identified Cairo,
Giza and Alexandria as “Major Touristic Centers” and Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheik and
Hurghada as “Active Touristic Centers.” Seven airports such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm
El Sheik and Hurghada have been designated as international gateways for tourism
development now. The additional international airports in Marsa Alam, which is under
construction by BOT scheme, will provide good accessibility.
Tendency of tourism accommodation development
Current accommodation establishments concentrate in Cairo including Giza, Upper Nile, the
Red Sea and South Sinai sub-regions, which amount to 19.5, 18.1, 12.5 and 10.5 thousand
rooms respectively. These combined numbers account for about 80% of the total rooms in
Egypt. In the meantime, the Red Sea is a most promising area under TDA Development.
The Ministry of Tourism is targeting the establishment of 315 thousand rooms of
accommodation in long-term perspective in the Strategy of the Tourism Sector. Out of 315
thousand, 201 thousand has been allocated to the target in the Red Sea, followed by Upper Nile,
South Sinai and Matruh. MOT has set target numbers of rooms in those sub-regions bet ween
22 thousand and 26 thousand.
(3) Evaluation of tourism potential (STEP 3)
Based on the previous analysis of existing conditions of each tourism region and the qualitative
evaluation of development conditions, the potentiality of each tourism Sub-region was
evaluated by point system as shown in Table 2.3.3. As a result, four Sub-region are selected as
priority areas as follows:
Red Sea (40 points)

South Sinai (38 points)

Upper Nile (29 points)

Cairo (19 points)

Table 2.3.3 Results of Evaluation

Existing Planning
Tourism Sub-region conditions conditions Total points Order
Red Sea 15 25 40 1
South Sinai 15 23 38 2
Upper Nile 15 14 29 3
Cairo 13 6 19 4
Source: JICA Study Team

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Fayum
Table 2.3.4 Comparison Chart of Potentiality by Tourism Sub-region

Tourism Regions Desert and

Cairo Nile Valley Red Sea Mediterranean Sea
Oasis

Nile Delta

Red Sea
Sub-regions

Upper Nile
Cairo

Middle Nile

Alexandria

Matruh

Siwa

New Valley
South Sinai

North Sinai
Suez Canal
Evaluation criteria
(A) Products: Type of tourism
Historical and Historical Safari and
Geographical condition Marine resort Marine resort
cultural tourism tourism Oasis resort
Tourism Products
(B) Maturity 4 0 0 6 6 6 0 1 1 0 0
International Hotel Guests
Share of Hotel Rooms
(C) Market 6 0 1 6 6 6 2 2 2 0 0
Origin of tourists
(Hotel class
(D) Accessibility 3 0 1 3 3 3 1 3 1 0 1
Airport facilities
(E) References
Critical issues
Population
Minority
Natural environment
Historical environment
Source of water
(1) Potential Area Set by MOT 1 2 1 7 10 10 4 1 7 4 3
Development conditions

Tourism development area

Priority zones
Suggested development areas
Concession areas
(2) Infrastructure development 4 0 1 4 6 6 1 3 0 4 3
Certification of Tourist Center
Airport Development
(3) Accommodation development 1 1 1 4 7 9 1 1 2 0 0
Ongoing projects by TDA
Accommodation until 2012
Evaluation
(1) Points of existing conditions 13 0 2 15 15 15 3 6 4 0 1
(2) Points of development conditions 6 3 3 14 23 25 6 5 9 8 6
(3) Total points 19 3 5 29 38 40 9 11 13 8 7
(4) Order 4 11 10 3 2 1 7 6 5 8 9
(5) Overall evaluation
Note: : High 3 point, : Moderate 1 point, : Low 0 point
Source: JICA Study Team

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2.3.3 Selected Priority Areas

The Red Sea Sub-region and Upper Nile Sub-region are selected as priority areas because of
the following reasons:
The Red Sea Sub-region and South Sinai Sub-region, which are ranked 1 st and 2nd, are both coastal resort
types. Coastal development has advanced in the South Sinai Sub-region. On the other hand, development of
the Red Sea Sub-region is rapidly increasing at a high growth rate at present and there is an urgent need to
formulate a regional tourism master plan.

Tourism resource of the Upper Nile Sub-region, representing Egyptian tourism, is unique in the tourism world
and continues to be indispensable to Egyptian tourism development.

The Upper Nile Sub-region adjoins the Red Sea Sub-Region and they are included in one economic region of
Upper Egypt in the development master plan of Egypt until year 2017. A simultaneous development of both
regions is expected to have multiple effects on Egyptian tourism.
In this report, the Study Team refers to the “Upper Nile Sub-region” and the “Red Sea
Sub-region” as “Upper Nile” and “the Red Sea,” and the integrated area as “Upper Egypt.” It
is as same as Economic Region defined by General Organization for Physical Planning,
Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities.

Figure 2.3.2 Selected Priority Areas and Tourism Development Areas

D elta

Alexandria
Canal

Greater Cairo

Asyut
North of
Upper E gypt

2
4
3

Selected Priority Areas

Governorate in the priority areas
1 Gena
2 Luxor City
3 Aswan
4 Red Sea

U pper Egypt

Source: JICA Study Team

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1. Existing Condition
1.1 Socio-economy

1.1.1 Geographic and Demographic Information

Qena Governorate and Aswan Governorate have large agricultural lands amounting to
2 2
1,383km and 763km respectively, and the total population of Upper Nile (Qena, Luxor and
Aswan) amounts to 3.8 million. Luxor City was part of Qena Governorate until 1989, when
Presidential Decree (No.135/1989) was issued and gave Luxor separate status as an
autonomous administration. Economy of the city depends largely on the tourism sector, and
inves tment in tourism projects is being encouraged. Upper Nile can supply agricultural
products and labor for the Red Sea's tourism industries as well as for its own tourism needs.
On the other hand, Red Sea Governorate is one of the coastal, frontier governorates in Egypt,
extending 1,080 km along the Red Sea. It consists of 6 cities, 11 local village units, and 19
villages. Due to its location, the governorate is strategically important to national security.
Inhabited land in Red Sea Governorate is extremely small (0.1% of total land area) and its 1999
population of 165 thousand is scattered over six cities from north to south. The pattern of
population distribution indicates a particular feature, i.e., the share of female population is 43%.
It can be considered that more than 20 thousand male workers are living alone in Red Sea
Governorate, which has booming tourism-related industries.
Table 1.1.1 Land Use in Qena, Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in
1996
Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea
Total area (km2) 10,265 91 34,608 130,000
1,610 91 940 71
Inhabited area (km2)
15.7% 100.0% 2.7% 0.1%
Residential 92 6 78 71
Utilities 112 20 52 0
Swamps and Others 23 1 46 0
Agricultural 1,383 64 763 0.3
Source: Governorate net by IDSC

Table 1.1.2 Population in Qena, Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1996
Population Urban population Female population
Governorate/City (thousand) (%) (%)
Qena 2,441 21% 50%
Luxor City 360 100% 49%
Aswan 974 43% 50%
Sub total 3,775 - -
Red Sea 156 89% 43%
Whole Egypt 59,272 43% 49%
Source: Statistical Yearbook 1992-1997 by CAPMS
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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Table 1.1.3 Population of Cities in Red Sea Governorate in 1999

Cities in Red Sea Population Urban population Natural growth rate
Governorate (thousand) (%) of population
Ras Gharib 30 96% 2.0%
Hurghada 63 100% 1.8%
Safaga 29 88% 2.2%
Quseir 27 80% 2.2%
Marsa Alrm 4 49% 0.8%
Bir Shalateen 12 49% 3.7%
Total 165 89% 1.9%
Source: Information department of the Red Sea Governorate, 1999

Table 1.1.4 shows the total number of households and family structure in the study area and
Egypt in 1996. Average number of household members is large in Qena, while those in Luxor,
Aswan and Red Sea are almost same as the country’s average.
Table 1.1.4 Total Number of Households and Family Structure in 1996
Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea Egypt
Number of households (thousand) 2,703 78 201 29 12,703
Average number of household members 5.1 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.7
Source: 1996 Census of Population, Housing and Establishments. Household Conditions, Final Results, CAPMAS, April
1999

1.1.2 Economic Activities

In Qena Governorate and Aswan Governorate, agriculture is the major economic sector
contributing to about 25-30% of their GRDP. Major crops are sugar cane, tomato, banana,
wheat, etc. Particularly, Qena shares 44% of sugar cane area in Egypt. Red Sea Governorate
owes its economy to natural and mineral resources. Agricultural land is currently only 80
feddans and 11,850 feddans areas are planned for reclamation. Most of the oil, gold, iron,
marble and precious stones in Egypt are products of the Red Sea Governorate.
Tourism sector shares 2.8%, 2.9% and 55.3% in Qena (including Luxor), Aswan and Red Sea
Governorate respectively in 1993/94.
Regarding the employment structure, share of service sector is high in Aswan and Red Sea
accounting for more than 50%, while in Qena, agriculture shares 42% of total employment.
GRDP per capita in 1996 is LE 1,548, LE 2,031 and LE 5,482 in Qena, Aswan and the Red Sea
respectively. The figures of Qena and Aswan are lower than the national average (LE 3,461)
but that of the Red Sea is higher, as shown in Table 1.1.5. Unemployment of Aswan shows
an extremely high rate at 21%.

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 Table 1.1.5 GRDP by Sector in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1993/94
Qena including
Sector Aswan Red Sea
Luxor
GRDP (LE) millions 4,207 1,974 592
Share of sector (%)
Agriculture 31.5% 25.5% 8.6%
Industry & Mining 6.6% 6.4% 25.3%
Electricity 5.9% 8.2% 1.3%
Housing & Construction 17.1% 6.5% 1.1%
Service 38.9% 53.5% 63.7%
-Transportation, Storage & Communications 5.1% 5.0% 1.3%
-Trade 9.7% 18.8% 0.0%
-Finance, Insurance & Soc. Insurance 2.5% 3.9% 0.0%
-Tourism 2.8% 2.9% 55.3%
-Public Utilities 0.3% 0.2% 0.6%
-Public & Private Services 18.6% 22.7% 6.4%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Source: Kilani, El Sayed Mohammed, Estimation of Regional Income in Egypt, National Institute of Planning 1998

Figure 1.1.1 Composition of GRDP in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1993/94

Housing & Construction

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Qena including Luxor

Aswan

Red Sea

Agriculture
Industry & Mining
Service Tourism

Source: Kilani, El Sayed Mohammed, Estimation of Regional Income in Egypt, National Institute of Planning 1998

Table 1.1.6 Share of Employment by Sector and GRDP per Capita in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in
1996
Qena including
Luxor Aswan Red Sea Whole Egypt
Employment (thousand) 567 268 56 15,340
Share of total population 20% 28% 36% 27%
Employment
Agriculture 42 % 29 % 20 % 31 %
Industry (including manufacturing) 20 % 21 % 19 % 22 %
Services 38 % 50 % 61 % 47 %
Unemployment Ratio 10.9% 20.6% 6.5% 9.2%
1,548
GRDP per Capita (LE) 2,031 5,482 3,461
(Qena only)
Source: Labor Surveys 1996 by CAPMAS

1.1.3 Social Condition

(1) Illegal Settlements

Table 1.1.7 shows the number of illegal settlements and their population in Upper Egypt.
 Table 1.1.7 Number of Illegal Settlements and their Population in Upper Egypt in 1996

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea

26
Total number of illegal settlements (Areas) 57 3 40 (1993)
50,000
Total population in illegal settlements (persons) 493,616 12,550 412,162 (1993)
Source: Qena, Luxor and Aswan: CAPMAS 1996 Census and the Annual Statistics Yearbook, June 1999
Red Sea: Human Resources Development Report 1996 by The National Institute of Planning

(2) Minority Races and Communities

Until 1960, the “Bedouin” in Egypt were considered nomads. They lived in frontier
governorates, particularly north and south of Sinai, Matrouh, the Red Sea and the Western
Desert. However, through population censuses, it was identified that a majority of them have
already settled in permanent communities and are no longer living a nomadic life
Qena Governorate
The population of Qena Governorate predominantly lives in rural areas (78.8% rural in 1998).
They constitute a homogenous group sharing the same tradition and cultural traits with the rest
of southern Egypt’s population.
Luxor City
The population of Luxor City is all urban population and nomads do not exist. They are mainly
of southern Egyptian origin and migrants from other regions of the country who came to work
in Luxor City.
Aswan Governorate
There are several sub-groups of the Egyptian population which have distinctive sub-cultures
within the Egyptian culture rooted in Islamic, Arab and old Egypt traditions. At present, the
following five of these sub-groups live in Aswan:
El Kunouz is Nubian tribe. They had lived north of old Nubia (south of Aswan City), and moved to an area
north of Kom Ombo City after the establishment of the High Dam and the formation of Nasser Lake. This tribe
speaks its own dialect in addition to Arabic language, and uses their dialect in singing, which is accompanied
by drums and tanboura music.

El Fajeka is another Nubian tribe. They had lived south of old Nubia to wards close to Sudanese borders, and
moved to the area east of Kom Ombo City after the establishment of the High Dam. They also have their own
dialect, which is different from that of El Kunouz, in addition to the Arabic language. Their folkloric music and
songs are similar to those of El Kunouz, but have their special dances such as Arajid.

Bashariya and Abaddah tribes live in the area east of Aswan and in Red Sea Mountains. They have a special
dialect, which is different from Nubian dialects, and speak Arabic.

Arab tribe had lived in the middle of old Nubia between El Kunouz and El Fajika tribes, and currently lives in
the area east of Kom Ombo. They speak Arabic language only.

El Gaafrah tribe lives in small cities and villages along the banks of the Nile River, north of Aswan City. This
tribe is of Arab origin and came to Aswan during the Islamic invasion of Egypt.

It should be noted that despite their relatively low economic standards, these subgroups share
norms of generosity, hospitality and respect. They are willing to participate in efforts directed
to development of their communities.
Red Sea Governorate
There are few sub-groups of the Bedouin population who live in Red Sea area and have their
distinctive way of life, including a special dialect (in addition to the main language), special
dress and ceremonies of marriage and birth. The two distinctive subgroups in Red Sea area are
Basharia and Ababdah tribes who live in the area extending from east of Aswan to Shalatin and
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Halayeb at the southeast corner of Red Sea Governorate close to the Sudanese borders.
These tribes live on camel and sheep rising and some work in indigenous jobs in tourist
villages, oil fields, mines and fisheries in the area.

1.1.4 Population Projection

The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities has estima ted the future population
framework for 2017. As shown in Table 1.1.8, the growth rates of Qena Governorate and
Luxor City are the same level as the average growth rate of the population of the country, which
is estimated at 1.66% per year. On the contrary, Red Sea Governorate shows a very high
growth rate at 4.8%, while it is low in Aswan Governorate.
Table 1.1.8 Population Projection for 2017
Population in 1996 Population in 2017 Increase 1996-2017 Average annual
Governorate/City (thousand) (thousand) (thousand) growth rate
Qena 2,441 3,432 991 1.64%
Luxor City 361 502 141 1.60%
Aswan 974 1,172 198 0.89%
Red Sea 156 419 263 4.82%
Total 3,932 5,525 1,593 -
Whole Egypt 59,727 83,702 23,975 1.66%
Source: Development Master Plan in Egypt until 2012, June 1998, by General Organization for Physical Planning, Ministry of
Housing, utilities and Urban Communities

In the meantime, regarding Luxor City and Red Sea Governorate, the regional development
plans have individually been formulated afterward with a special focus on tourism
development.
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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

1.1.5 Local Government Budget

Table 1.1.9 shows the budget of local governments in the priority area for the 1998/99 fiscal
year. The sources of revenue of governorates consist of tax, transfers from the state
government, fees and charges, and capital revenue. In the 1998/99 fiscal year, the revenues of
Luxor City and Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates are LE 123 million, LE 562 million,
LE 363 million and LE 118 million respectively. In the meantime, Luxor City and Qena,
Aswan and Red Sea Governorates have allocated 11%, 5%, 7% and 13% of their total
expenditure to investment expenditure respectively. Share of the investment budget is
comparatively high in Red Sea Governorate and Luxor City.
Amount of expenditure budget per person varies among the governorates. In Red Sea
Governorate it is the highest at LE 693 per person per year. It is lowest in Qena Governorate,
amounting to LE 223, which is one third that of Red Sea Governorate.
Figure 1.1.2 illustrates the change of budget amounts and composition of revenue of the four
local governments from 1994/95 to 1998/99. Share of local fee revenues is high in Red Sea
Governorate and it increased from 30% in 1994/95 to 40% in 1998/99.
Table 1.1.9 Local Government Budgets in 1998/99 Fiscal Year
Qena Aswan Red Sea
Luxor City Governorate Governorate Governorate
Total Revenues (LE million) 123 562 363 118
Tax 11% 6% 5% 7%
Transfers 63% 80% 81% 39%
Local Fees 15% 9% 6% 40%
Capital Revenues 11% 5% 7% 13%
Total Expenditures (LE million) 123 562 363 118
Investment 11% 5% 7% 13%
Recurrent Expenditures 89% 95% 93% 87%
Share of budget revenue to GRDP 1) N.A. 12% 12% 14%
Expenditures per person per year (LE) 2) 331 223 366 693
Note: 1) Share of budget to GRDP is calculated by projected GRDP in 1998/99.
2) Expenditure per person per year is calculated by population projection in 1998/99.
GRDP projections in 1998/99 are based on 1993/94 data given in Table 1.1.4, the average annual sectoral growth
rate of the 3rd Five-Year plan (1992/99-1996/97) and the 4th, Five-Year Plan (1997/98-2001/2002).
Population in 1998/99 is projected based on 1996 population and future population is estimated by General
Organization for Physical Planning.
Source: Governorates

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Figure 1.1.2 Revenues of Local Governments (1994/95-1998/99)

150.0
milion LE

100.0
Budget Revenue of Luxor City

Capital rev enues

Local fees

50.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Transfers

Tax

600.0
500.0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0

400.0
Budget Revenue of Qena Governorate

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Budget Revenue of Asuwan Governorate

300.0

200.0
milion LE
100.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

150.0
Budget Revenue of Red Sea Governorate

100.0

50.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Source: Information from each governorate

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

1.1.6 Existing Plans of City Development in Upper Nile and the Red Sea
Formulation of master plans of cities in Upper Nile has been planned recently by several
agencies such as Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities (MHUUC) with
UNDP such as Luxor and Aswan cities, local governorates, and the Ministry of Planning. This
is in line with the National Project for Developing Southern Egypt, aimed at redressing
the grave imbalance in the distribution of investments and returns of development a
mong Egypt's governorates. TDA has helped cities in Upper Nile not only at advisory level
but also financial level to develop tourism facilities such as berthing facilities for the Nile cruise
boats.
On the other hand, Red Sea Governorate is currently reviewing master plans for seven cities,
which were planned by MHUUC in 1999. Development master plans for four cities within the
Upper Egypt Region (Hurghada, Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam) should be well coordinated
with the development plan of TDA Tourist Centers to set up the future population distribution
and regional structure and to distribute regional urban functions to each city.

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1.2 Tourism Products and Tourism Market

1.2.1 Tourism Product in Upper Egypt

Travel patterns in 1.4.2 of Part I show that the Upper Nile and the Red Sea are the major
destinations for international visitors. The outline of products is summarized as follows.
Historical/Archeological Tourism:
In the Upper Nile, historical assets traditionally represent tourism products. It is not only lead
tourism in Egypt but also lead Historical/Archeological tourism in the world. Major resources
are located not only major cities like Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, but also, small towns like
Dendera , Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. The highlights are Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple,
Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Philae in Aswan and Abu Simbel. Many historical sites are
located along the Nile; some are prepared and opened to visitors and some are left unexcavated.
Karnak Temple, West Thebe, El Kab and Gebel El Silsila have much potential as new tourism
products.
Some efforts to add value to these products are being done recently. The examples are sound
and light show at Karnak Temple, Philae, and construction of museums such as Luxor Museum
and Nubia Museum. But in almost historical sites don’t have enough information system both
of the suggested route and explanation of sites.
Approach methods and approach to historical sites have also problems. Approach methods to
historical sites such as Dendera, Esna, Edfu Kom Ombo are almost limited Cruise Ship, and it
is difficult for international visitors to go there by bus or railway. The reason of it is
limited information in foreign languages and limited operations and cleanness.
Cruise Tourism:
The Nile River cruise between Qena and Aswan, which takes four days or five days, is one of
the best products of Egypt, while the cruise in Nasser Lake is yet matured. The cruise ships
operated between Cairo and Aswan and Qena and Aswan are 214 ships with 11,167 rooms and
3 ships with 155 rooms respectively in 1997. The Nile River cruise has been attracting all
segments of markets. This segment can attract all segments of market irrespectively in
distance, age group, sex, etc.
It is alarmed the proper counter measures should be taken against pollution of river water by
the cruise ships which becomes seriously year-by-year. It is essential to improve the
cruising system for the promotion of and maintaining the segment.
In the Red Sea, Quseir has a town which has a histor y of trading port until the opening of Suez
th th
Canal in 19 Century. It has 16 Century fort and traditional buildings. An old building is
renovated as accommodation by a Swedish donation. Excavations of archeological sites in
Islamic period are done by British University, and construction of a museum is planned by
municipality government.
Marine Resort Tourism:
Tourism products in the Red Sea are represented by marine resort tourism. Tourism
development in Hurghada started in the begging of 1970s. In recent years, huge beach resort
developments have been launched from the center of Hurgada to surrounding of the city. For
example, Al Gouna and Abu Soma have been developed as new tourist centers. And more,
new accommodation development has started near Safaga, Qusir Marsa Alam and TDA Tourist
Centers. As a result, not only the numbers of divers but also holidaymakers on package tours
from European countries have increased rapidly after 1995, and the tourist activities are getting
diversified into marine activities, such as diving, snorkeling, fishing, water-skiing, yacht, etc.
On the other hand, an atomospare of downtown Hurghada is getting worse because of

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan
 uncontrolled urban developments and disordered land reclamations. Luxury hotel is moving to
from downtown to the surroundings.
Diving Tourism:
The Red Sea has been a world famous destination for divers with its clear waters, colorful
coral reefs and rare fishes for more than 10 years. Hurghada has been a center of diving
activities in Egypt.
The main diving spots are concentrated around Hurghada and divers prefer these spots because
of the easier accessibility. Therefore, some of the diving spots such as Gota Abu Ramada and
Small Giftun have high density of divers (about 20 boats per day at Gota Abu Ramada). The
diving spots distributed at the middle and southern part of the Red Sea coast, around Quseir and
Marsa Alam are more isolated and untouched. These are accessible by long-distance cruises,
which take one or two weeks, from Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh. In addition, it is possible to
access them through dive centers, which have been recently developed around Quseir or Marsa
Alam.
According to the marine survey conducted by the Study Team, some diving spots around
Hurghada are damaged because of diving and snorkeling activities including anchoring.
Damage due to the same reasons are expected at the southern Red Sea coast, where large scale
tourism developments are making progress rapidly and since the Marsa Alam new airport is
under construction. It is required to educate diving instructors and diving centers to manage
diving activities appropriately. It is also identified that many diving centers recognize that the
natural conditions, such as crown of thorns, also cause damage. It is required to monitor and
research the marine environment for effective environmental management in the Red Sea.
Other tourism resources:
From the evaluation of tourism resources, the following utilization of tourism resources are
expected:
Lake Nasser as cruise tourism;

Nile River and Lake Nasser as eco-tourism;

Lifestyle and customs of Nubian and Bedouins people as rural tourism;

Hinterland of the Red Sea coast as safari tourism; and

MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Events) tourism in the Red Sea.

1.2.2 Tourism Market in the Upper Egypt

Table 1.2.1 shows the number of hotel guests, their composition by generating areas and the
tourist shares of the major six destinations, namely, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, South
Sinai and Red Sea. The number of hotel guests suddenly dropped to half in 1993 and in 1994.
It increased from 1995 to 1997 but it in 1997 was just 70% of the 1992 level. The collective
share of the six destinations also decreased from 18.6% in 1992 to 9.3% in 1997.
As for composition of hotel guests, the number of hotel guests from European countries
decreased sharply the last six years. It was 423 thousand in 1992 but only 129 thousand in
1997. Therefore, the share of European hotel guests decreased from 78.0% to 33.4%. On the
other hand, the shares of other regions of origin increased, although they could not compensate
for the loss of European persons.

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Table 1.2.1 Tourism Market of Luxor

Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

No. of hotel guests (persons) 542,513 264,200 189,747 230,697 355,565 387,607
Share of 6 major destinations 18.6 11.3 8.6 10.4 9.9 9.3
Composition of hotel guests
Egyptian 6.3 10.8 16.3 15.8 13.6 14.4
Arab 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 5.7 7.6
Europe 78.0 69.5 41.1 38.9 36.0 33.4
Americas 7.3 7.5 19.0 20.5 23.8 24.4
Africa 0.8 0.5 2.2 3.3 5.6 6.5
Asia & Pacific 7.1 11.2 19.5 17.5 15.3 13.8
(Unit: percent)

Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures annual issues, MOT

In Aswan and Luxor, the number of hotel guests decreased in 1993, 1994 and 1995. However,
it increased in 1996 and 1997, and it in 1997 even exceeded the level of 1992. However, the
1997 shares of the six major destinations have not recovered to their 1992 levels as yet.
The share of European hotel guests dropped to 30% from 1992 to 1997. Otherwise the shares
of the other regions of origin have been increasing. The shares of hotel guests from Egypt and
the Americas have exceeded 20% and have an important role for Aswan especially.
Table 1.2.2 Tourism Market of Aswan
Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
No. of Hotel guests 294,526 141,977 87,958 110,466 171,886 322,365
Share of 6major governorates 10.1 6.1 4.0 3.5 4.8 7.8
Composition of hotel guests
Egyptian 11.6 18.5 25.6 21.1 21.4 20.2
Arab 0.6 1.0 1.7 4.2 1.9 6.2
Europe 68.3 56.9 34.2 32.5 37.3 31.6
Americas 7.7 8.7 9.6 13.6 11.7 20.0
Africa 0.8 1.0 1.8 4.5 3.4 4.7
Asia & Pacific 11.1 14.0 27.2 24.2 24.3 17.3
(Unit: percent)

Source: Egyptian Tourism in Figure annual issues, MOT

The number of hotel guests in the Red Sea has increased satisfactorily from 280 thousand in
1992 to 996 thousand in 1997. Shares of the major six destinations also increased from 9.6%
in
1992 to 24.0% in 1997. The share of hotel guests, as well as bed nights, of the Red Sea has
exceeded the total shares of Luxor and Aswan.
About 85% of hotel guests consisted of European in 1997. The share of European increased
from 56% in 1992 to 84.3% in 1997. Meanwhile, the share of Egyptian has been decreasing,
though the number of hotel guests increased from 84 thousand in 1992 to 135 thousand in
1997. Shares of the other regions have stayed almost at 0% levels.

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 Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Table 1.2.3 Tourism Market of the Red Sea

Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

No. of visitor 280,911 254,774 629,145 777,660 996,427
Share of 6 major visitors 9.6 11.5 19.7 21.7 24.0
Composition of tourists
Egyptian 24.3 - 32.8 18.5 13.4 13.6
Arab - - 4.4 7.2 1.3 0.8
Europe - - 56.0 50.6 84.0 84.3
Americas - - 2.6 11.8 0.9 0.6
Africa - - 0.5 5.8 0.1 0.1
Asia & Pacific - - 3.8 6.0 0.2 0.5
International 75.7 - - - - -
(Unit: percent)

Source: Egypt Tourism in Figures annual issues, MOT

1.2.3 Market Development in Upper Egypt

Although Egypt’s famous historical heritage sites have enabled its tourism to carry out simple
market promotions for a long time, the situation has changed since the beginning of the 1990s
when marine resort tourism began to grow as the other main tourism products in Egypt.
To obtain information about the advantages and disadvantages of Egyptian tourism products,
the Study Team carried out interview surveys to travel agents in some European countries,
which are major markets for Egypt, and in Japan in June and August 1999. Information from
these surveys and opinions from the Study Team were used to draw up recommendations for
market promotion strategies.
The following opinions were given by the travel agents and the Study Team regarding tourism
products, market segments and competitors:
Historical tourism is a major tourism product for Egypt in each country surveyed and will grow steadily in the
future. Therefore, Upper Nile will continue representing major tourism destinations worldwide.

Historical tourism products with the Nile cruise are most popular products in all five countries surveyed.
Japanese travel agents recognize that historical tourism product without the Nile cruise is one of the most
important reasons why recovery of Japanese tourist numbers has been limited after the Luxor accident in 1997.

As for historical tourism, Egypt has no competitors because of its unique historical tourism resources.

Marine resort tourism products are more important in Italy and Germany than in the United Kingdom and
France. On the other hand, marine tourism in the Red Sea does not attract most Japanese consumers.

When considering marine resort development in the Red Sea and South Sinai, development in South Sinai
should be carried out first. Marine resort in South Sinai is more popular for European tourists, especially for
Italians. But some environmental problems have started in South Sinai because too many tourists visit there.
For example, coral reefs in some diving spots have shown damage and the calm atmosphere in South Sinai has
been lost. Therefore, some people, such as highly skilled divers and tourists, who like undeveloped atmosphere
may set their sights to the southern Red Sea coast in the near future.

Pollution has started in beach sites near Hurghada and some hotels have started to move to the south Red Sea
coast. If there is no environmental management policy, the whole stretch of the Red Sea coast would be
polluted after “consumption” of natural environment, and
 In marine resort tourism, it is expected that Mediterranean countries will provide stiff competition for Egypt
because more than 50% of tourists to marine resorts in the Red Sea come from Western Europe, which is also a
potential market for Mediterranean countries. Travel agents in Italy and Germany pointed out Tunisia as a
would-be rival because of price competition.

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1.3 Tourism Accommodation

1.3.1 Accommodation Facility in the Upper Nile

Table 1.3.1 shows the present condition of accommodation facilities and their distribution in
Upper Nile. In 1997, 60% of accommodation consisted of cruise ships in the Nile River. About
25% of accommodation rooms were in Luxor City and 15% in Aswan City.
Table 1.3.1 Accommodation Rooms in Upper Nile in
1997
Governorate Location No. of rooms Share in total (%)
Qena City 116 0.6
Qena Armanat/Esna 0 0
Qena Total 116 0.6
Luxor City 4,669 24.7
Luxor El Toad 0 0
Luxor Total 4,669 24.7
Aswan Aswan City 2,739 14.5
New Aswan City 0 0
Edfu 0 0
(Nile River)
Kom Ombo 0 0
Aswan-Nile Total 2,739 14.5
Toshka/Abu Simbel 161 0.9
(Lake Nasser)
Aswan-Nasser Total 2,900 15.3
Nile River (Luxor-Aswan) 11,088* 58.6
Cruise Ship Lake Nasser 155 0.8
Cruise Ship Total 11,243 59.4
Upper Nile Total 18,928 100.0
Note: Figure with * mark includes the number of cruise ships in Cairo Tourism Region (Number in 1998 was 10,675)
Source: JICA Study Team

Upper Nile has several plans in relation with tourism sector development, as listed below. Table
1.3.2 shows major plans of this region although there is lack of detailed information about them.
National Plan for Development South Egypt to 2017 by Ministry of Planning, 1996

Comprehensive Development of the City of Luxor Project by Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban
Communities, UNDP, 1999

Toshka Tourism Development Plan 1998 by TDA

Aswan New City Development Plan by Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities (MoHURNC ),
1997

Other development plans by Local Governorates, 1999

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan
 Table 1.3.2 Existing Development Plans and Programs in Upper Nile
Governorate Location No. of rooms Reference, data source
Quena City 500 2017 target, Development Scheme of South Egypt Plan
Qena Armant/Esna 125 2017 target, Development Scheme of South Egypt Plan
QenaTotal 625
Luxor City 6,600 2017 target, Luxor City Development Plan/MoHURNC-UNDP
Luxor El Toad 1,000 2017 target, El Zoraykat Island project
LuxorTotal 7,600
Aswan Aswan City - Under study by MoHURNC-UNDP
Edfu - Aswan Governorate has a plan to develop a tourist area.
(Nile) New Aswan City 9,200 2017 target, Aswan New City Development Plan/MoHURNC
Sub-total 9,200
Toshka 9,040 2017 target, Toshka Tourism Development Plan/TDA
(Lake Nasser) Cruise ship 5,000 2017 target, Development Scheme of South Egypt Plan
Sub-total 14,040
Aswan Total 23,240
3,799 Under construction, Hotel Capacity in Republic Egypt
Cruise ship Cairo/Luxor/Aswan 1999/TDA
Grand Total 35,264
Source: The development plans mentioned in the reference.

1.3.2 Accommodation Facility in the Red Sea

(1) Concept of Tourist Sector and TDA Tourist Center

TDA areas for tourism development at the Red Sea coast are allocated between existing cities.
Each area is called a Tourist Sector, which consists of Tourist Centers, as shown in Figure
1.3.1.
One Tourist Center includes several projects, which are carried out by investors. A project lot
50ha or larger is developed according to the integrated development procedure; a lot less than
50 ha is developed according to the limited development
procedure.

Infrastructure projects implemented by TDA

TDA finances infrastructure development for tourism, such as beautification of pedestrian
network along the Nile. The projects are implemented by local agencies.
Development of Tourist Center s
TDA has authority to acquire and sell tourism development lands and retain the income and to
charge fees for assessing and monitoring projects. TDA’s tourism development lands are
allocated mainly along the coastlines of Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Toshka
around Lake Nasser.
Development Scheme of Tourist Center s
The allocated lands for TDA tourism development are called Tourist Sectors, which consist of
clusters of tourist centers.
One Tourist Center comprises several projects that are developed by investors. An individual
project lot 50 ha or larger is developed according to the integrated development procedure and
a lot smaller than 50 ha is developed according to the limited development procedure.
There are two types of development schemes for the Tourist Center, as shown in Figure 1.3.2.
Type A consists of one integrated development project and type B consists of some integrated
and limited development projects. In the case of type A, the investor is required to formulate a
development plan for the Tourist Center. For type B, the investors in one Tourist Center are
required to form one mother company and formulate a development plan for the Tourist Center.

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Development Procedure of Individual Project Lot

Integrated Development Projects: For the integrated development projects, the investor buys
the land and creates a self-sufficient tourism area, and at his cost, facilitates the required
infrastructure and utilities that are indispensable for the superstructure projects. For such
investor, the formation of an Infrastructure Development Company (IDC) is made at TDA’s
recommendation and supervision. Its Board of Directors is to be represented by significant
investors, developers, and resort or tourism facilities managers; a small staff is maintained
though. IDCs can sell small plots of infrastructure, or utility-facilitated land, to individual
investors provided that TDA gets 50% of the sale price after the costs of the infrastructure and
utilities are deducted. IDCs are also responsible for preparing EIAs required by the EEAA.
The flow of Integrated Development Projects is shown in Figure 1.3.3.
Limited Development Projects: For specific projects, including hotels, resorts, commercial or
recreational facilities, in which land requirements vary between 50,000 and 500,000 square
meters, the investor (private company) is required to provide the infrastructure and utilities at
his cost in the limited tourism project. The land can be purchased or leased directly from the
TDA. In case an investor of limited tourism project puts up more than one firm in the tourism
developing area, an IDC is formed at TDA’s recommendation and supervision. The investor is
also responsible for preparing EIAs required by the EEAA. The flow of Limited Development
Projects is shown in Figure 1.3.3.
Figure 1.3.1 Tourist Sector and TDA Tourist Center

To urist Sec tor

(T DA
Area)

City Ar ea

T our ist Sector

(TDA Area)

City Area

Tou rist Cen ter

Source: JICA Study Team

1-15
 Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Figure 1.3.2 Types of Tourist Center Development

Integrated development
project

Integrated development
project
Limited develop
m e n project

Source: JICA Study Team

Type of Mother
Sector Center
Development Company
Gemsa B Not formed
North Hurghada Sector
El Gouna A -
South Magawish B Not formed
Sahl Hashish A -
Hurghada- Safaga Sector Abu Makhadiq B Established
Abu Soma A -
North Safaga B Not formed
Safaga-Quseir Sector Safaga – Quseir B Not formed
Bir Asal B Established
Sharm El Bahari B Not formed
Marsa Wazir B Established
Ras Trombi (Om Ghieg) B Not formed
Quseir-Marsa Alam Sector
El Gezera El Hamra B Not formed
Marsa Shoni/Morren B Established
El Naba El Sagier B Not formed
Marsa Shagara B Established
Ras Dori B Not formed
Sharm Fokiery B Not formed
Sharm El Loly A -
Marsa Alam-Ras Benas Sector
Ras Honkorab B Not formed
Hamata B Not formed
Wadi Lahemi B Not formed
Table 1.3.3 Situation of Tourist Centers in the Red Sea
 Note: Refer to Figure 1.3.2 for types A & B development.
Source: TDA, JICA Study Team

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Figure 1.3.3 Development Processes of Tourism Centers

Integrated

TDA

2 Investor /
4
Developer
3

5
TD A

6
Investor /
Developer

D evelopment 7
C om pany

Prepar e
EIA

Land
al locati on
Env ironmental

Managem ent of

1. S how prelim inary plan done by TDA

to individual investor/developer
2. Application of preliminary
reservation for the project

4. P reliminary study of the project

(M/P)
5. Assess of the Prelim inary Study & A pproval

M odi fi ed
9 M /P

Proceed w ith
D esi gn &
Engineeri ng

Pr oject
Im plemen tation

Beginni ng of O&M
3. Assess & preliminary approval
6. Formation of the New
Com pany
7. Preparation of EIA
8. Change of land allocation
9. M odification of M/P based on
EIA

Fir st S tag e
Third
Se con d Stag e Sta ge

Fo r th Sta ge
 Limited

2
3

TD A

1
Investor/
4
Developer

Investor/

TD A

5 Inves tor / Developer

Investor /

6 D ev el opm ent 7
C om pany

Pr epare
EIA

all ocation

Envir onm ental

M anagement of
N atural areas

Developer

Investor
/ Develo per

Developer

Inves tor / Develop er

Modified
9 M/P
Proceed wi th Design &
Engi neering

Project Impleme ntation

Beginni ng of O&M

First Stage
1. S how prelim inary plan done by TDA

Second Stage
T hird
Stage

Forth Stage
to individual investor/developer
2. A pplication of preliminary reservation for the project
4. Preliminary study of the project
(M /P)
5. Assess of the prelim inary study &
9. Modification of M/P based on E IA
8. Change of Land Allocation
3. A ssess & prelim inary approval
approval
6. Formation of the New
Company
7. Preparation of EIA

Source: JICA Study Team

(2) Current accommodation development by TDA scheme

Table 1.3.4 shows the status of accommodation rooms by TDA scheme. The total number of
hotel rooms, which is assigned or contracted by TDA, is around 109 thousand and tourist
housing is around four thousand.

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 Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Table 1.3.4 Current Situation of Accommodation Development in the TDA Area in October 1999

TDA contract/assignment In operation Under construction

Sector Center Tourist Tourist Tourist
Area (ha) Hotel housing Hotel housing Hotel housing
Gemsa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Hurghada
El Gouna 2,800 2,287 797 1,176 283 1,486 599
South Magawish 700 10,922 503 3,962 204 3,897 260
Sa`l Hashish 3,200 6,000 0 0 0 4,592 1,008
Hurghada–
Safaga Abu Makhadiq 616 4,775 819 538 0 2,987 63
Abu Soma 150 1,730 270 620 25 1,110 245
North Safaga 136 853 0 300 0 519 0
Safaga-Quseir Safaga-Quseir 322 1,138 468 178 0 72 0
Bir Asal 742 5,099 116 300 0 4,078 64
Sharm El Bahari 946 4,323 16 90 0 736 0
Marsa Wazir 487 8,029 0 0 0 0 0
Quseir- Marsa Ras Trombi (Om Ghieg) 1,349 11,652 0 0 0 0 0
Alam El Gezera El Hamra 2,639 6,294 28 214 0 532 0
Marsa Shoni/Morren 769 9,331 270 0 0 13 7
El Naba El Sagier 461 7,430 0 0 0 2 0
Marsa Shagara 699 6,450 256 383 0 1,147 47
Ras Dori 814 6,651 0 30 0 0 0
Sharm Fokiery 964 6,772 0 72 0 100 0
Marsa Alam-Ras Sharm El Loly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Benas Ras Honkorab 409 5,390 0 0 0 0 0
Hamata 251 3,448 0 0 0 0 0
Wadi Lahemi 0 0 0 0 0 60 0
Total 18,454 108,574 3,543 7,863 512 21,331 2,293
(Unit: rooms)

Source: TDA and JICA Study Team

 (3) Tourism development in city areas
The number of accommodation rooms in operation and under construction in city areas is
shown in Table 1.3.5.
Table 1.3.5 Accommodation Development in City Areas
Number of rooms Number of rooms
City
in operation Under construction
Hurghada 14,300 6,300
Safaga 2,000 700
Quseir 800 1,200
Marsa Alam 1,300 100
Total 18,400 8,300
Source: Ministry of Tourism

Hurghada City has grown as a tourism city especially for divers since ten years ago. In recent
years, a huge number of accommodation rooms were constructed rapidly, and still a remarkable
number of constructions are occurring not only along the coastline, but also on the hinterland.
In Quseir and Marsa Alam City, the accumulation of accommodation facilities is small. The
coastal lands and tourism areas in these cities are going to be developed.

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1.3.3 Business Environment and Investment Opportunity

(1) Upper Nile

Tourism related companies and banks have the following opinions about business
environment/investment environment in Upper Nile:
About 70% (30 out of 44) of the surveyed companies have business in Upper Nile. Their constraints for
business activity are ranked as follows: Regulations and complicated public procedure for business activity and
investment, poor public security, difficulty of land acquisition, lack of institutions and laws for business
activity/investment, lack of infrastructure, and difficulty of procurement of materials and inputs. The issue of
public security ranks quite low for investors in general, and seems to be of special concern only to investors in
Upper Egypt.

Investment activities are concentrated in Luxor. However, the city has run out of suitable building sites now.
Other areas in Upper Egypt do not have so much demand. Egyptian government is conducting a master plan
study for Luxor City, which has a new development concept of city area expansion. But this information is not
spread to investors as yet.

Finances by banks for tourism projects cover hotels, Nile cruise boats, and tour operators in Upper Egypt. One
bank did specify that they are partners in a Nile cruise boat, and that it is doing well and has adjusted to the
crisis, while another boat they had financed is having trouble adjusting after the Luxor crisis. The four other
banks did not finance cruise boats.

The banks all agreed that there is little physical space left for building new hotels and resorts in Luxor and that
no new licenses are being issued for boats for Nile cruises. Therefore, current investment in Upper Egypt
consists mostly of renovating or expanding existing facilities. Upper Egypt is also considered to be one of the
highest risk investments, because it suffers crisis such as the Luxor incident in 1997 and it takes long time to
recover from them. Cairo and Southern Sinai are the areas that recover the fastest and suffer the least in any
crisis. However, the banks made it clear that they are not unwilling to finance investments in Upper Egypt; it is
simply that they do not receive many financing requests for this area.
According to data from GAFI, 39 companies out of 797 were established in Luxor and Aswan
until December 1998. Investment cost is LE 383 million, which is only 1% of total investment
cost.

(2) Red Sea

Tourism related companies have the following opinions about business environment/investment
environment in the Red Sea:
About 40% (18 out of 44) of the surveyed companies have business in the Red Sea. Their constraints for
business activity are ranked as follows: 1st: regulations and complicated public procedure for business activity
and investment, 2 nd: lack of infrastructure, 3 rd: lack of reliable business partner, 4 th: difficulty of land
acquisition,
5th: difficulty of procurement of materials and inputs and 6th: insufficient economic and business information.

About 50% (26 out of 44) of the companies started their business or want to start a business in the Red Sea. 10
companies think it is too early to start business in the Red Sea. Three companies replied that the Red Sea does
not have a potential for tourism development. Five companies said they do not have enough information to start
business/investment activity.

In the Red Sea, problems of land acquisition and registration are due to the fact that all the land is owned by the
government, and is sold under special contracts to developers. The companies reported that it takes a long time
to register land, which makes it difficult to use as collateral for financing a project. However, they also said
that the process has become faster over the past year.

As for operation of banks, the Red Sea has the largest investment portfolio in two banks interviewed. One of the
banks pointed out that lack of adequate urban planning is a major problem in the Red Sea. For example there is
no public beach in Hurghada, which implies that hotels and resorts must have their own private beaches. There
are also no strict zoning laws that give the area a uniform appearance in terms of building height, color, style,
etc. Another problem is lack of cooperation and coordination between investors in the Red Sea. Hotel
owners compete on price in package tours bringing the price for five star hotels to low levels. Since the cost of
building and operating five star hotels is very high, low prices make projects less profitable and more
vulnerable. It also makes it very difficult for the four star hotels to compete, because there is not enough of a
price differential.

According to GAFI’s data, 241 companies out of 797 were established in the Red Sea until
December 1998. The investment cost of LE 13,868 million was 35% of total investment cost.

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1.4 Transportation and Infrastructure

1.4.1 Airports

(1) Upper Nile

Airports are located in Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel, which have important roles for tourism.
Not only domestic flights but also international flights are using Luxor Airports and Aswan
Airport. Many charter flights from Europe are directly arriving there, which are a big help
because of the poor condition of domestic flights for European tourists.
The total number of domestic and international flights at Luxor Airport in 1997 was about
17,500 with one million passengers, which were the second largest next to Cairo International
Airport. The number of domestic flights using Luxor Airport was about 11,300 with 892,000
passengers. The number of international flights was approximately 6,200 with 147,000
passengers, of which about 5,170 and 1,030 were non-scheduled and scheduled flights
respectively.
The total number of domestic and international flights, which used Aswan Airport, was
approximately 10,300 with 750,000 passengers. The domestic flights were about 9,600 with
712,000 passengers. The international flights were 705 with 38,000 passengers.
Both Luxor Airport and Aswan Airport have runways that can accommodate
A-300-class-airplanes. However, the terminal building of Luxor Airport is too small and too
old to handle the volume of arriving and departing passengers. Furthermore, the parking space
in front of the terminal building is inadequate.
The newly built terminal building of the Aswan Airport has the capacity to control passengers
smoothly. The parking space in front of the terminal building is also large enough.
Majority of passengers using the Abu Simbel Airport are tourists visiting the Abu Simbel
Temple. Most of them visit the temple as part of an optional tour from Luxor and Aswan so
that they fly to Abu Simbel via Luxor or Aswan. Most of the tourists stay only three or four
hours there and fly back to Luxor or Aswan. The total number of flights using Abu Simbel
Airport was about 5,340 in 1997. This airport is only for domestic use now.
The terminal building of the Abu Simbel Airport is small but newly constructed. The space in
front of the terminal building is causing congestion of passengers and vehicles because the
airport does not have a parking space for buses and taxies.
The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority has already studied the redevelopment and expansion of
the runway, taxiway and terminal building in Luxor and other airports to meet future air
transportation demands. They expect to be implemented by BOT scheme.

(2) Red Sea

Hurghada International Airport is the only airport in the Red Sea. It had the third largest
number of flights in 1997, which was about 17,610. The number of international flights was
7,630, which was the second largest in Egypt. It consisted of 1,000 scheduled flights and
6,630 non-scheduled flights.
The Hurghada International Airport is not only used by civil aviation but also by military
operation. This airport has a runway that can accommodate A-300-class-airplanes. Expansion
of terminal building is underway. And the development of the second runway and new
terminal building is planned. It was scheduled for implementation by BOT scheme.
Mersa Alam Airport, which is located 60 km north of Mersa Alam, is under construction by
BOT scheme. The airport is being constructed and will be operated by an investor of TDA
Tourist Center with a 40-year concession. The project is divided into four phases. The
construction of the first phase will be completed in 2002, the second phase in 2005, the third

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phase in 2008, and the fourth phase in 2010. This airport is planned to have a runway that is
3000 m long and an apron that can accommodate three airplanes.

1.4.2 Roads
Eight major roads exist in Upper Egypt. Current conditions of National Road Nos.2, 44, 77
and
88 are good with enough traffic capacity. Regional roads, such as Nos. 53 and 99, are also in
good condition. However, development condition of secondary roads is poor with narrow
widths and sharp curves.
Length Lane Side Walk Total Width Capacity
Route No. Section (km) (m) of Road (m) Remarks
Width (m) No.
National Road Upper Nile
No.2 Qena - Aswan 294 3.75 2 1.5x2 10.50 10,000 (East Bank)
Regional Road Upper Nile
No.53 Qena - Edfu 188 3.00 2 1.5x2 9.00 6,500 (West Bank)
Secondary Upper Nile
Road Edfu - Aswan 104 2-3.0 1-2 0-1.0x2 (West Bank)
National Road Linking two
No. 77 Qena - Safaga 161 3.75 2 1.5x2 10.50 10,000 regions
National Road
No.88 Qift - Quseir 183 3.00 2 1.5x2 9.00 6,500 Ditto
Regional Road Edfu -Marsa
No.99 Alam 230 3.00 2 1.5x2 9.00 6,500 Ditto
Secondary Aswan -
Road Shalatain 300 3.00 2 1.0x2 8.00 6,500 Ditto
National Road Hurghada - Red Sea
No.44 Marsa Alam 281 3.50 2 1.5x2 10.00 10,000 coast
National Road Marsa Alam -
No.44 Shalatayn 230 3.00 2 1.5x2 9.00 6,500 Ditto
Table 1.4.1 Existing Major Roads in Upper Egypt

(car/day)

Source: Urban Development Planning Report for Red Sea, May 1999 by Ministry of Construction, Housing & New
Communities

Traffic condition on the roads except secondary roads is not so bad at present, but it is expected
to worsen in the near future in accordance with the tourism development in Upper Egypt.

(1) Upper Nile

National Road No. 2, which is one of the main national roads in Egypt, lies along the east bank
of the Nile River from Cairo to Aswan. This road has an important role not only for regiona l
people but also for tourists, because it is the only main road connecting Cairo to Upper Nile.
 The road is two-way, two lanes with enough width to allow large tourist buses to pass each
other. Its pavement is also in good condition.
A regional road from Qena to Aswan lies along the East Bank of the Nile River. This road has
been developed to serve the regional people as well as tourists visiting historical monuments
located at the West Bank of the river. However, it is a poorly developed narrow road with
some unpaved parts. There is a need to improve this road from the viewpoints of regional
development and tourism development.

(2) Red Sea

National Road No. 44 starts at the Suez and runs to the border of Sudan along the coastline of
the Red Sea. This road is the only main highway there and has a very important role not only
for national defense but also for the development of the Red Sea. This road is two-way, two
lanes with enough width, and also has good pavement condition.
The part of the road, which passes through city areas, is well developed with divided four lanes
at Hurghada, Safaga and Mersa Alam. In Quseir, however, the road narrows and curves
sharply.

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

The road running along the coastline passes across a lot of wadis (valleys). Drainage facilities
(box or pipe culvert) are provided at wide wadis and high embankments to prevent erosion by
rainwater. Some parts of the road crossing wadis, however, have not been provided any
drainage facilities.

(3) Eastern Desert

Three roads running through the Eastern Desert connect Upper Nile to the Red Sea. These
roads will have more important roles for tourism product diversification in the regional tourism
development.
National Road 77 Safaga - Kena

National Road 88 Quseir - Quift

Regional Road 99 Marsa Alam - Edfu

National Road 77 is a major route, which connects Upper Nile to the Red Sea at present.
High-voltage cable, railway and water conveyance pipes are running along the road. The road
is
two-way, two lanes with wide shoulders and good pavement condition. Furthermore, a
roadside rest area exists in the mountainous area between Qena and Safaga.
Conditions of the other two roads are comparatively good except for the mountainous sections.
These two roads, however, have no roadside rest areas for drivers and passengers. Tourists are
not allowed to pass through these roads because of security reasons at present.

(4) Safety facilities

Road signs, markings, and streetlights have not been set sufficiently along roads. Some
sections of roads have quite monotonous environment, e.g., flat and straight alignment with
monotonous landscape.

(5) Parking space and rest areas

Development of parking spaces for tourist buses and taxis is one of the most important issues.
Cruise ships are moored at the centers of cities, and tourists visit tourist spots by vehicles.
Most tourist vehicles are parked on roads along the river because there are no parking spaces
near the berthing places of cruise ships. This causes not only traffic jam but also possible
traffic accidents to tourists, and likewise spoil the scenery of the Nile.
Presently, roadside rest facilities are not sufficient. Rest facilities with parking and toilets
should be provided at sufficient intervals along roads, especially the road sections used by
tourists.

1.4.3 Railway

(1) Upper Nile

A standard gauge track from Cairo to Aswan runs along the Nile River. A double-track line
runs between Luxor and Aswan after the completion of track works in 1996.
This railway is an important transport mode connecting Cairo to Upper Nile as well as to
st nd rd
National Road No.2. Trains with 1 , 2 and 3 class coach are being operated on the line. And
more night trains are being operated from Cairo to Aswan now. But the number of users
remains low.
Both Luxor Station and Aswan Station were recently renovated. But open spaces in front of
these stations ha ve not been thoroughly developed as yet. Parking spaces and sidewalks are
still inadequate.

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(2) Eastern Desert

A railway connecting Upper Egypt and the Red Sea through Eastern Desert started operations
in
1987. Recently rails have been changed to new ones and embankment protection works have
been done recently. The Egyptian National Railway operates and maintains this railway as
well as other lines. Trains with passenger coaches had been operated before but recently this
route has been used only for freight trains from Upper Nile to Safaga and Quseir.
The Egyptian National Railway is studying the operation of regular-scheduled passenger trains.
Regularly run passenger trains will be one of the modes of transportation between Upper Nile
and the Red Sea and will contribute much to tourism product diversification of the regional
tourism development.

(3) Red Sea

The railway from the Eastern Desert diverges from Safaga and runs parallel to National Road
No. 44 up to Quseir. Rails have also been changed to new ones and protection works of
embankment has also been done.

1.4.4 Water Transportation and Cruising

(1) Upper Nile

The Nile River has been an important waterway for transportation in Egypt for a long time. In
fact, the Nile cruise from Cairo to Aswan is now a popular tourist product among international
tourists. However cruising from Cairo to Luxor has been suspended since the Luxor accident
in
1997.
As of 1997, there are 208 cruise ships being operated in the Nile River and 3 cruise ships in
Lake Nasser. Cruise ships basically sail at night and stay at tourism sites such as Luxor and
Aswan during the daytime. Thus cruise ships have not only played a role of tourist attraction
but also play a role of supplementing insufficient number of hotel rooms in Upper Nile.
Cairo University has formulated the master plan for development of berth facilities on the Nile
River between Aswan and Cairo and is conducting a design study financed by TDA.
Luxor
The berth and moorage of cruise ships at Luxor is located in the center of the city and the East
Bank of the Nile River. Five to six cruise ships are moored closely in parallel order due to
limited berth facilities. In such case, passengers have to get on and off by passing through
these moored cruise ships. This practice is not safe for passengers.
Protection of bank and promenade in front of the moorage is almost finished. But a transfer
facility is not developed near the berthing space so that tour buses have to park on street. As a
result, when many ships arrive at the moorage, streets become over -crowded. This practice is
not safe for tourists.
Private firms are currently constructing berthing facilities, which will have a 28-ship capacity,
at the upper and lower side of the bridge over the river in the southern part of Luxor. UNDP is
preparing the future city plan in consideration of this moorage construction. According to this
plan, some space in front of the new moorage, including space for 28 ships mentioned above, is
planned for commercial facilities and hotels, and the existing moorage is planned for parking
and open space.
Aswan
The current condition of berthing facilities in Aswan is same as Luxor ’s. Development
of moorage with capacity for 14 ships is planned with the support of International
Finance Corporation. However, this project cannot find a private investor, thus the project has
not been implemented yet.

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 Abu Simbel
In Abu Simbel, cruise tours from Aswan High Dam is now provided. Currently, there is
moorage for only one ship in front of Abu Simbel Temple.
Others
Aside from Luxor and Aswan, new moorage will be constructed in Dandara (for 11 ships),
Esna (for 4 ships), Kom Ombo (for 8 ships), and Edfu (for 8 ships) by investment of private
sector with the assistance of IFC.

(2) Red Sea

Hurghada and Safaga have ports where ferryboats can dock. An express ship, which connects
Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh in only 90 minutes, is being operated three times a week. In
addition, a ferry route connecting Safaga to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is also operated.

1.4.5 Water Supply

(1) Water resource

Most water demand for social and economic activities in Egypt depend on the water resources
of the Nile River. Seasonal floods from the Nile River provide fertile soil and irrigation for
agriculture along the riverside area until the middle of the 19th Century.
Aswan Dam was constructed to stabilize and utilize the rich water resources, avoiding flood in
the urbanized area. Utilization of water resource of Lake Nasser is demarcated by the water
use rights agreement with Sudan. The agreed discharging water volume from Aswan High
Dam is
3
55 billion m in a year.
The water resource of the Nile River affords the opportunity to expand agricultural land, to
increase agricultural products, and to support increased population.
The government of Egypt has been planning to increase water resources to redistribute from the
concentrated population along the Nile Valley to remote areas such as New Valley and the
Red Sea. Development of the remote areas will require a large volume of water resource from
the Nile River. However, water use rights for Egypt is controlled by the above
agreement. Formation of a comprehensive plan for water resource management including
ground water should be implemented for more efficient utilization of water resources in the
future.

(2) Upper Nile

Water resource for potable water of urban and rural areas in Upper Nile come from surface
water of the Nile River and from ground water.
Luxor
At present, two water purification plants provide potable water for Luxor City. To cope with
future water shortage by urban expansion and population increase, the Supreme Council of
Luxor is planning to expand and develop water purification plants. The water rate in Luxor
City is described in Table 1.4.2.
Table 1.4.2 Water Rates in Luxor City
Category of Consumer Volume m3 Water Rate (LE/m3) Remark
1 – 30 0.15 35% of water rate charged for
Residential sewerage treatment
More than 30 0.18
Commercial Establishment Per m3 50 Ditto
Hotel and Restaurant Per m3 80 Ditto
Source: JICA Study Team

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Aswan
In Aswan, the network of potable water supply serves 98% of the governorate. A new water
purification plant, which was financed by USAID, has been constructed in Kom Ombo. The
plant has a service center function in which water charges are collected.
The water supply networks and tapping facilities for berthing facilities are located in Aswan
and
Luxor.

(3) Red Sea

The river water of the Nile and desalination plants, and groundwater in wadis are used as water
resources in the Red Sea. The water transmission pipeline starts from Koraymet, running
3
through Zafarana and Ras Gharib, providing 39,000m /day of water to Hurghada. And the
3
desalination plant in Hurghada is also providing 1,000m /day of water for the city.
3
The second water pipeline from Qena to Quseir is providing 12,000m /day of water to Safaga
3
and 6,000m /day to Quseir. This water pipeline used to provide water to Hurghada City.
The Marsa Alam desalination plant, which can generate 600m3/day, is being operated. It will
3
be expanded to 3,000m /day in the future in accordance with redevelopment of the new city.
The third water transmission pipeline from Edfu to Marsa Alam is planned to cope with the
increase of water demand by the regional tourism development.
Developers of TDA Tourist Centers have to provide infrastructures by themselves. Seawater is
the only source of drinking water for them, considering construction schedules of their projects
and construction cost of water supply facilities. The desalination plant in Soma Bay Tourist
3
Center generates 3,900m /day of purified water. Desalinated water is chlorinated and contains
80 ppm mineral.
1.4.6 Sewage Disposal

(1) Upper Nile

Luxor
The Supreme Council of Luxor is developing a sewage disposal system, which will cover 50%
of 370,000 citizens, within 2 years. The present condition of sewage works is as follows:
Table 1.4.3 Present Condition of Sewerage Treatment Plants in
Luxor
Status Capacity (m3/day) Disposal Method
Developed 13,000 Oxidation
Under Construction 13,000 Ditto
Plan (within 2 years) 11,000 Ditto
Total 37,000
Source: JICA Study Team

The demand for sewage work is estimated at 200 liters/person/day, which is set at 80% of water
supply volume per person per day.
3 3
370,000 persons x 50% x 0.2m /person/day 37,000m /day
Major hotels are located within the above sewage work coverage. Most of the sewage from
hotels are collected and disposed by the present system. Sewage of cruise boats and cruise
ships are disposed and discharged to the river by their own disposal system.
To cope with the future demand by the regional tourism development and urban expansion, the
municipality is planning three additional sewage works development, which are northwest,
southwest, and southwest of the city. The municipality is also promoting septic-tank disposal
systems for those outside the sewage work coverage area.
On historical sites in Luxor City, some portable toilets are provided for tourists. Those toilets

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan
 are comparatively well maintained.
In the training center for sewage disposal in the city center, workers are given operation,
maintenance and management training.
Aswan
Aswan Governorate comprises 5 administrative centers. Sewage disposal system has been
developed in the two centers of Aswan and Edfu. The government of Aswan has a plan to
develop sewage disposal facilities for the other 3 centers.

(2) Red Sea

3
A sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 20,000m /day has started operations in Hurghada.
3
Its capacity will be expanded to 12,000m /day in the near future. A wastewater treatment
system by septic tank is used outside the service area. In Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam,
septic tank system is also used. TDA Tourism Centers must have their own sewage disposal
systems.

1.4.7 Solid Waste Disposal

In Upper Nile and the Red Sea, local governments or subcontracted private companies are
operating a solid waste disposal. In the developed Tourism Centers in the Red Sea, developers
of the center are operating daily solid waste collection and disposal.
In the east of Qena, an open dumpsite lies at the desert along National Road No. 77. This gives
a bad image to passengers who see this dumpsite as they travel this road. When garbage in the
site is incinerated, smoke fills the area. This will cause pollution problems in the future.
In the Red Sea, open dumpsites are developed and operated by city councils. They are located
outside the city area and are filled with smoke just like the one in Qena. A private company
has a contract with the city council of Hurghada to collect garbage. The other three cities in the
Red Sea collect their own garbage.

1.4.8 Electric Power Supply

A 220-kv transmission line connects from Aswan to Harghada by way of Safaga, and electric
power is now being supplied to these cities. Each city in the Red Sea has its own power
station.
Table 1.4.4 Power Stations in the Red
Sea
City Power station
Thermoelectric power plant (not activated)
Hurghada
Wind power plant (testing)
Quseir Thermoelectric power plant (activated)
Marsa Alam Thermoelectric power plant (activated)
Source: JICA Study Team

TDA Tourist Centers develop their own power generation and supply system. All of the Tourist
Centers do not utilize the national grid system.

1.4.9 Telecommunication Network

Current condition of telecommunication network in Egypt has rapidly improved in the past few
years. It is based on introduction of new machines, development of new stations, and rapid
increase of mobile phone users. Traffic of domestic and international telecommunication is
dramatically increasing so that more improvement is needed from now on. Some Tourism
Centers in the Red Sea develop their own optical fiber network to Hurghada to maintain good
condition of communication.

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1.5 Environment

1.5.1 Meteorological Conditions

The meteorological condition in the study area is summarized in Table 1.5.1.
Humidity

Table 1.5.1 Meteorological Conditions in Upper Egypt

Qena and Luxor Aswan Red Sea
Maximum of 42.8oC during the Maximum of 43.2oC during the
Maximum of 40-41oC at Ras Benas
Temperature

months of July-August and part of months July and August and part of
(south) and 32-34oC at North of
September and minimum of 6.1oC September and minimum of 8.8oC
Hurghada and Quseir. July and
during the months of January during the months of January and
August are the warmest months of
through March. February. the year.
Minimum of 8-10oC at south and
9-10oC at Hurghada and 16-18oC at
Quseir with January and February
as the coldest months of the year
Rainfall is minimum (0.1 mm/day) Rainfall is minimum (0.1 mm/day) to Minimum rainfall is in October and
Rain Falls

to none during the year. The main none during the year. The main November. Some record shows
source of irrigation/drinking water source of irrigation/drinking water 68.1 mm in the south and 62 mm in
and other uses is the river Nile. and other uses is the river Nile north as highest rainfall
Relative

Ranged between 47-55% during Ranged between 34-43% during Ranged between 50-60% from
winter (December-February) and winter (December-February) and November-December in the south
27-40% during summer 17-27% during summer. and 40-50% from June-August in
the north.
Ranged between 1.8 -4.5 m/sec in Ranged between 4.5 -10.0 m/s in
Winds

summer and between 2.4 - 5.8 in summer and between 3.9 - 8.6 in n/d
winter winter
Source: General Authority for Meteorology, Cairo Egypt

1.5.2 Geology and Topology

(1) Geology
The geological formation of Upper Egypt can be divided into two main geological
characteristics.
The Nile valley basin (Qena, Luxor and
Aswan)
The geological formation of the Nile Valley of Upper Egypt is called the Nubian sandstone
formation and is composed of an alteration of sandstone and clays which have water absorption
power. Such sandstone of the Cretaceous Age essentially constitutes a main complex of
aquifer, which is widely extending in the study area. Thickness of the Nubian sandstone
varies from several meters to 303 m. The basement rocks, which are mainly represented by
Aswan granite, are exposed on the surface at different places. Thus, the rocks are hindering
direct groundwater flow through the Nubian sandstone aquifer (El-Shazly & El-Hady, 1977).
Eastern desert and Red Sea mountain chains (Red Sea)
Geology of eastern desert and the Red Sea mountain chains is a rocky plateau dissected by a
number of drainage systems with a main channel and numerous tributaries. The Red Sea
mountain range forms the watershed (divide) which parts the drainage eastward to the Red Sea
and westward to the Nile River. Most principal wadis have their heads in the Red Sea
Mountains and extend across the whole stretch of the eastern desert until they debouch into the
Nile Valley. The area has a rugged surface with high mountain peaks rising to 1,350 m above
sea level (not including the Red Sea mountain). The average elevation of the wadis range
between 350 m and 546 m above sea level.
Most basement consist of a complex of the Precambrian. The rocks are dominated by
geosynclinal metasediments (schist-mudstone-graywacke series), gneiss, amphibolite, diorite,
and granodiorite complex, old and younger granite.
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Alluvial deposits cover the beds of the wadis. These deposits show a notable variation in
texture through the soil profile that is typical successive layers of the wadi-fill deposits. The
physical characteristics of deposits vary in different wadis as well as within one wadi,
according to the surrounding rocks and topography of the wadi.

(2) Topology
It can be said that the Nile River is the most prominent physical feature as far as population and
settlements of Egypt are concerned. The desert extending on the eastern side to the Red Sea
mountain chain is dissected by a number of large and small wadis. On the western side,
another desert extends whose configuration is rather flat or gently undulating and almost
featureless except at the Kurkur and Dungul Oases and the Sinn El-Kaddab escarpment. At
about 500 km west from the Nile of Aswan region, the mountain massif of Oweinat rises.

(3) Natural Hazards

According to Shata (1988), natural hazards in Aswan region are of the following three types:
Flash floods pass through wadis in Eastern Desert (Allaqi, Agag, Natash, Shait, Kharit and Abbad) and Western
Desert (Kalabsha and Kurkur).

Earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale observed in 1981 when water level of the Nasser
Lake was at about 176 m.

Sand creep is obvious on the western desert side of Nasser Lake area and moves in successive rows in a NW/SE
direction. As a result, sand fills the Toshka spillway.

(4) Soil Condition, Erosion and Landscape of the Study Area

In accordance with the survey results of the “High Dam Soil Survey Project”(UNDP, FAO and
Egypt, 1974), the soil characteristics of the study area from Aswan to Qena can be divided into
5 sectors as follows:
Aswan-Kom Ombo:
The Nile Valley in Aswan is narrow and has practically no alluvial soil along the river.
Configuration of the valley is steep with rock debris slopes that lead up to a rock plateau. The
plateau is situated approximately 100 m above the valley of the Nubian sandstone. The valley
opens quite abruptly into the Kom Ombo plateau. In the Paleolithic era, the Kom Ombo plain
was a swamp in which sedimentation of silt had occurred. The sediment at the edge of the
plain is sandier.
East of Kom Ombo Plain:
A hill complex forms the eastern limit of the Kom Ombo plain. The hills are terrace remnants,
with coarse sandy or gravelly substrata. Beyond them, a wadi plain extends eastward and is
divided into a rather small western part and a larger eastern part by an outcrop of the Nubian
sandstone. The eastern part lies within the watershed of Wadi El-Kharit and its tributary Wadi
El-Natash and is called Atmour Nugra. Both parts of the plain are in part alluvial and sandy or
loamy to a variable extent, partly of shale and sandstone of the Nubian sandstone series. The
western plain lies a little higher than the alluvial deposits. In the eastern plain, the relief is
more pronounced, it could be said that the sandstone outcrops give the plain a rather rugged
appearance, and the alluvium contains silt or less loam and is less suitable for agricultural
development.
Edfu-Esna-Gebelein:
In the east of the Nile, the processes of erosion have carved the rock land into a separate
plateau, capped by the lower Eocene limestone which are exposed on both banks of the river
further north. High above the valley, two or three terrace levels can be distinguished, marking
early Pleistocene, or even in part Pliocene, erosion levels of the Nile. There are also a
number of

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rather wide and very gravelly tributary valleys, including Wadis Sillim, el Sarrag, el Hawa,
Abbad, el Domi and el Shoki.
North of Edfu, the Nubian sandstone gives places to Cretaceous limestone, which form a more
mountainous terrain traversed by a main road, which no longer follows the Nile Valley, and
contains some phosphate mines. The harder lower Eocene limestone still survives as a capping
at some of the highest points, Gebel Bakhmanyia above the Nile valley just to the east of
Gebelein. The older gravelly terraces continue as far as Esna, beyond which point the rubble
terrace deposits occupy the entire fringe area. On both sides of the valley between Edfu and
Esna the desert fringe generally presents either a smooth slope, of at most a few degrees,
between the cultivated area and higher terraces or the rock land, or consists mainly of the
youngest terrace deposits. The smooth slope usually shows a loamy surface soil over compact
shale, shale clay, or intercalated sandstone, all of the Nubian sandstone series.
Gebelein-Qena
Below Esna, the rock land on the west bank lies further from the river, around the V-shaped
mouth of a tributary gully system, but closes in again from Luxor to Qena to leave only small
areas of rubble terrace land in the desert fringe. Soft Cretaceous limestone forms a precipitous
escarpment. Four rubble terrace stages can be recognized and between them and the foothills
there is a debris slope or stony pediment that, at an altitude of about 148 m, marks the
approximate level of the Pleistocene inland sea.
Below Gebelein, on the east bank, an important tributary system formerly entered the valley
and the ancient gulf must have been very wide at this point. At present the rock land lies about
12 to
18 km beyond the edge of cultivation and wide stretches of the oldest rubble interspersed with
outwash plains and wadi beds.
The debris slope or stony pediment presents a remarkable feature, for the soft Cretaceous
limestone, which is much less resistant to erosion than the gravelly rubble and the stony debris
of the pediment has led to an inversion of relief. Close to the deeply incised gullies little of the
limestone remains and there are hollows, far below the level of the terraces, when these were
formerly hills. This steep rough country looks like a landscape of the moon.
The marine clays of the Pliocene Inland Sea occur under the gravel cover of all the rubble
terraces, of whatever stage, as far south as Esna. Close to the rock escarpments and just in
front of tributary gullies these deposits may be gravelly or stony and near the edge of the
cultivated land, between Luxor and Hegaza as the original rubble cover has been eroded in
places, or removed by man, so that the clayey subsoil reaches, or almost reaches, the surface.
Where Wadi Matulah joins the valley opposite Qift, the rubble terrace landscape gradually
merges eastward into a wide plain of predominantly sandy, sometimes loamy deposits,
developed in a strongly denuded Nubian sandstone country. This landscape begins a little to
the east of the Lakeittah Wells. The marked differences in elevation, both between different
rubble terraces and between the plain and the surrounding rock land, have disappeared. In the
plain itself, there are only a few outcrops of the Nubian Sandstone. North of Qena, the rubble
terrace landscape extends a long way up into the Wadi Qena.
As seen from the river the rubble terrace landscape, for all their variations in elevation, hardly
show up; the land falls away and one may get the impression of a rather level hinterland.
Qena-Nag’ hammadi:
After the big westward bend, which the Nile Valley makes at Qena, the appearance of the
valley definitely changes. On the east side, the high rock land closes in, leaving only an
insignificant desert fringe of rubble terraces. On the west, the landscape is quite different; first,
the high rock land plateau retreats to a distance of 10-14 km from the cultivated land of the
valley. Second, although the different rubble terraces are still present, fan and outwash gravel,
and wide wadi plain deposit, are dominant. As these have a notably steeper slope than the
rubble terraces, they bury the part of the terrace which lies closest to the rock land. The rubble
terraces emerge ha lf

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way up this outwash slope; while below their escarpments there extends a long slope of
outwash material, relatively flat and consisting of fine textured sands.

1.5.3 Hydrology and Groundwater

The Nubian sandstone formation is a main and important water-bearing formation in the area.
Boundary of the formation covers Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Chad. The great variation in its
geographic distribution could be attributed to the variation that occurred during its deposition
(El Ramly, 1973).

(1) Water Flow

Water is being recharged from the Nile to the aquifer (Mitwally 1953 and Sheta 1962).
3
Geoistrazivanja (1965) estimated a seepage of 6 million m /annum with the average
-3
permeability of 3 x 10 cm/sec. At Nasser Lake, seepage the level of 180 m was expected at
3
73.5 million m /annum.
The saved volume of water discharged from the Nubian aquifer was estimated at 257 million
3 3 2
m /annum in total and the extraction average could be 800 million m /km /annum. (Soilman.
1987)

(2) Nasser Lake and River Nile

It can be said that the Nasser Lake and the river Nile represent the hydrology of Egypt. The
Nasser Lake is located 7 km south of the Aswan Dam. The lake as whole is mostly surrounded
3
by rocky terrain. The entire reservoir has a gross capacity of 157,000 million m . The riverbed
of the high dam is 99 m above sea level. Some of the arms of the lake called Khors are over 50
km. There are 85 major Khors of which 48 are on the eastern shore and 37 on the western.
The shoreline morphology is primarily dependent on both erosion and sedimentation.
Total shoreline length of these Khors is 969.9 km. The most important factor, which affects
shoreline morphology, is the sedimentation of a huge amount of silt carried by the river during
the flood. Changes in the shoreline morphology are expected to occur at a faster rate during the
filling stage of the reservoir than later on when the reservoir has reached its maximum holding
capacity which already had happened during the 1998 flood.
Evaporation and mean annual discharge through floodgates and turbines result in an annual
variation in water level of about 5m. As a consequence of constructing the high dam, the river
Nile in Aswan region formed the following three separate water bodies:
Nasser Lake;

Aswan reservoir (lying between the High Dam and the Aswan Dam, 7 km down stream); and

Nile River (down stream of the Aswan Dam).

In the Nasser Lake, there is an annual cycle of water level change related to the seasonal flood
pattern of the river Nile, together with a long-term pattern of net rise and fall of the mean lake
level. During the drought years in the mid 980s, the mean monthly level of the Nasser Lake
dropped to 157.37 m above mean sea level.
The Nasser Lake has the following environmental features:
It is one of the cleanest artificial lakes based on periodic analyses of its water and soil;

Limited number of residential areas around the lake;

Agricultural development is limited along the shoreline of the lake;

5,500 farmers have planted 25,000 Feddans, which represent 2% of the total shoreline of the lake;

There are no pollution-generating activities on the lake except one factory for fish preparation and freezing;

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Total number of cruise ships is 6l; and

There is no any disposal activity from industries and agriculture or sewage into the lake.

As for the water quality of the Nile River, Table 1.5.2 shows an analytical data of river water
quality from Aswan to Esna in1993/94.
Table 1.5.2 Quality of Nile River Water from Aswan to Esna (1993/94)
Parameter Concentration
DO 6.0 (mg/l)
BOD 3.6 (mg/l)
COD 13.6 (mg/l)
Cl 8.0 (mg/l)
TSS 12.0(mg/l)
F. Coli. 410 (col/100 ml)
Source: Institute of River Nile Research, WRPW

(3) Groundwater
According to officials of Luxor and Aswan, rising of the ground water level in each
governorate has grown remarkable in recent years. Table 1.5.3 shows the groundwater
fluctuation in shallow boreholes around the Nasser Lake. Most of the data were taken from
1965 and 1991.
Table 1.5.3 Hydrogeological Data of Shallow Boreholes
Distance from Initial Ground water level Latest Ground water level
Direction
the Lake (km) Level (m) Year Level (m) Year
2.00 East 120.75 1965 120.90 1966
3.00 West 118.00 1965 162.00 1991
4.00 West 118.00 1965 159.00 1991
4.50 East 111.27 1965 141.67 1969
5.80 East 115.00 1965 160.40 1991
5.90 West 113.77 1965 158.23 1973
6.00 West 119.48 1965 150.23 1991
7.00 West 104.26 1965 125.86 1971
8.00 East 113.85 1965 158.38 1991
9.00 West 104.21 1965 141.54 1991
9.00 East 109.81 1965 129.06 1969
10.00 West 115.00 1965 149.52 1979
11.00 West 104.18 1965 127.15 1991
30.40 East 117.27 1965 134.21 1991
33.50 South 168.03 1974 165.85 1991
80.00 West 112.09 1965 160.77 1991
107.50 South 168.13 1974 168.24 1983
187.15 South 176.89 1974 171.09 1981
Source: Ground water of Upper Egypt, Masters Thesis, 1994 and Faculty Engineering, Cairo University.

1.5.4 Flora & Fauna

(1) Flora
The flora of the Egyptian ecosystem is profiled, as shown in Table 1.5.4.

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 Table 1.5.4 Profile of Flora in Egypt
Flora Number of Species
Virus 44
Bacteria 238
Fungi 1,260
Algae 1,148
Flowering Plant 2,072
Non-flowering Plant 369
Source: Environmental Quality Report of 1996, EEAA

The flora of Aswan, Luxor, Qena and the Red Sea have been studied by Aswan Faculty of
Science as well as other institutions since 1978. Based on those studies, following data and
information are shown in the Appendix.
List of flora species in Upper Egypt;

List of indigenous flora species in Upper Egypt and their uses; and

Zone of vegetation in the eastern side of the Aswan area.

(2) Fauna
A list of fauna in Upper Egypt including mammals, birds, soil fauna and others is attached as
Appendix.

(3) Coastal Area

The Red Sea is one of the richest coral habitats on earth, and has a very diverse ecosystem,
specially cyanophyceae, tropical fishes and so on.
Several natural communities of mangrove forest that need to be protected are observed in the
surrounding area of Marsa Alam, south of the Sinai Peninsula, among other sites.

1.5.5 National Parks and Natural Reservation

In Upper Egypt, the Egyptian Government has established a total of 21 natural protectorates
(National Parks and Natural Reservations) in accordance with the Law 102/1983 to protect
natural resources and endangered bio-diversity. A list of National Parks and Natural
Reservations in Upper Nile is given in Table 1.5.5, and attractions of ecosystems and others
identified in each natural protectorate is summarized, as shown in Table 1.5.6.
Table 1.5.5 List of National Parks and Natural Reservations in Upper
Egypt
Name of Park or Reservation Governorate Total Area (km2) Protection Decree /Year
Elba Red Sea 36,500 No. 450/1986
Saloga & Gazall Aswan 13 No. 928/1986
El Alaki Valley Aswan 275 No. 945/1989
River Nile Island River Nile 8,775 No. 928/1986
Source: EEAA Natural Reservations Guide for Egypt, 1994

Table 1.5.6 Attractions of National Parks and Natural Reservations

Year Type of unique ecosystem
Natural Protectorate Established Bird Flora Fauna Wild life Marine Geology
Elba 1986
Saloga & Gazal 1986
El Alaki Valley 1989
River Nile Islands N.A.
Source: Natural Reservation and Culture Interest Areas of Egypt, EEAA, 1995

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1.5.6 Pollution

(1) Air Quality

It is considered that the other sources of air pollution are mostly from industrial establishments
(sugar mills and textile mills in Qena; chemical plants in Aswan), power generation stations,
housing and agricultural areas (smoke from open burning of solid wastes) and so on. In
Aswan,
130 tons/year of NOx had been generated from a fertilizer company. (Source: Environmental
Quality Report of 1996, EEAA).
Table 1.5.7 shows data on SO2 and O3 obtained from monitoring stations.
Table 1.5.7 Air Quality as of August
1999
SO2 (ìgU/m3) O3 (ìg/m3)
Monitoring Position
Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
Qena (Kom Ombo) 15.23 62.79 3.5 141.2
Luxor 6.81 45.61 3.6 140.4
Aswan 1.10 145.2 4.1 133.5
Source: EEAA data report to the JICA Study Team, October 3, 1999.

Data on O3 concentration in those areas shows less than the maximum limit recommended by
WHO (World Health Organization) which suggests that the maximum concentration of O3
3
should be in the range of 150-200 ug/m for every exposure hour.
In the Red Sea area, less information regarding air pollution is available at present. However,
2
Red Sea Governorate covers 130,000 km of which only 0.05% is occupied by
human/commercial activities. Therefore, the present situation of air pollution caused by usual
human activities might not be so serious. As a matter of course, an increase in human activities
and travelers will lead to increase in total quantity of air pollutants, including NOx, SOx, SPM,
benzene (C6H6), etc. and easily make the surrounding air quality bad for human health.

(2) Water Pollution

Water supply and its consumption
The river Nile is the main source of water in Egypt. It supplies about 97% of the water
requirements of Egypt. According to the Nile Water Agreement, the Nile supplies 55.5 billion
3 3 3
m of water. In addition to the river, 4.7 billion m of groundwater and 19 million m of water
3
treated by desalination plants add to the water supply. There are additional 3.9 billion m of
3
agricultural drainage water and 600 million m of domestic water which are recycled for
irrigation. Of the water used for irrigation, it is estimated that almost 70% will be lost to the
drainage channel and to the underground water reservoir. Table 1.5.8 shows the water
consumption ratio by sector in Egypt.

Table 1.5.8 Water Consumption Ratio by Sector

Sector Irrigation use Industry use Residential use Other use
83.2% 9.8% 5.5% 1.5%
Source: Environmental Quality Report of 1996, EEAA

Sources of water pollution

The sources of water pollution in Upper Egypt are summarized as shown in Table 1.5.9.
Table 1.5.9 Sources of Water Pollution in Upper Egypt
Source Drainage Industry Sewage
58.2% 32.1% 9.7%
Source: Environmental Quality Report of 1996, EEAA

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Drainage channels:
From Aswan to near Cairo there are 67 drainage channels pouring into the river Nile directly or
3
indirectly with a total of 4 million m per year from agricultural activities and some sewage
sources (treated or semi-treated). It is considered that agriculture drainage water is
contaminated by several kinds of pollutants, such as nutrients, pesticides, etc.
Industrial Wastewater
Industrial wastewater is a critical source of pollutants in Upper Egypt and the Gulf of Suez (i.e.
north of the Red Sea coast). The present situation of industrial wastewater in the study is
summarized as follows:
3
Upper Nile (Qena, Luxor and Aswan): It has been detected that around 190 million m of
industrial wastewater is disposed into the drainage channels in Upper Egypt every year.
Industrial wastewater increases the salinity of the river Nile from 130mg/l at Aswan to 250mg/l
near Cairo (Source; Environmental Quality Report of 1996, published 1997 by EEAA). In
Qena, the sources of industrial wastewater are the aluminum complex, sugar mills, plastics
plants, textile mills, and some food manufacturers. In Aswan, industrial wastewater is
discharged by sugar mills and chemical plants. However, Luxor has no such sources of
industrial wastewater. To comply with the environmental law No. 4, industrial companies
have to set up suitable wastewater treatment facilities. For instance, an aluminum
industrial complex has set up precipitation tanks for suspended materials and a sugar
manufacturer has set up facilities for recycling of organic wastewater.
Red Sea: The north part of the Red Sea is remarkably active in oil and shipping activities. The
EEAA newly established coastal water quality monitoring stations in the area, in cooperation
with Danish International Development Authority (DANIDA). From the stations various data
on coastal water quality are obtained as shown in Table 1.5.10. All parameters represent the
average of data of 13 monitoring stations located along the Red Sea coast.
Table 1.5.10 Eutrophication in the Red Sea Coastal Surface Water (as of June 1999)
DO Total
Chloro- Trans- Total
DO satura- TSM Nitrate Nitrite NH4 Phos- Silicate
Parameters tion
phyll parency Nitrogen
phorus
(mg/l) (mg/l) (mm/l) (mm/l) (mm/l) (mm/l)
(g/l) (m) (mm/l)
(%) (mm/l)
Gulf of Min 6.48 103.8 0.05 4.96 2.50 11.11 0.04 0.00 0.62 0.08 1.04
Suez Max 7.56 119.2 0.78 17.77 9.00 34.96 14.44 0.75 3.98 5.04 2.16
Red Min 6.84 111.4 0.01 3.49 4.50 8.82 0.04 0.00 0.56 0.28 0.92
Sea
proper Max 7.38 121.4 0.31 9.06 17.00 38.22 0.63 0.15 1.50 3.64 2.40

Gulf of Min 6.66 106.3 0.06 4.05 7.50 8.17 0.17 0.00 0.52 0.56 0.88
Aqaba Max 7.92 131.4 0.30 6.34 21.50 21.89 0.60 0.14 1.74 2.52 2.84
Source: EEAA Report to the JICA Study Team, October 3, 1999.

Sewage
Upper Nile (Qena, Luxor and Aswan): According to officials in Aswan and Luxor, wastewater
in those areas is treated by trickling filter and oxidation pond. The sewage system of the city of
Luxor does not cover all its residential areas. Those not covered have been encouraged to use
septic tanks, which contribute significantly to contamination of ground water. The treated
sewage is discharged to the river Nile. Sewage of cruise boats is also disposed to the river Nile.
In Qena only 15% of the residential areas are covered by sewage disposal system. A pit, which
is prone to leaching, is often used to collect sewage. In Aswan, only 40% of the governorate is
covered by a sewage disposal system.
Red Sea: In the Red Sea coastal area, some res ort hotels own a seawater desalination plant
and a wastewater treatment plant. They use the treated sewage for agricultural purpose
including golf course maintenance, and the treated processed sludge is used as soil conditioner.
However,

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increasing these activities or engaging in large-scale operations poses a potential threat to the
ecological balance of the surroundings. As a matter of fact, the related laws for conservation of
the marine natural resources and the environment prohibit the discharge of wastewater to the
Red Sea. Based on the above, the sources of water pollution in the study area can be briefly
summarized as shown in Table 1.5.11.
Table 1.5.11 Sources of Water Pollutants in Upper Egypt
Area Industrial Residential Agricultural Drainage Others
Leaching Pit Low, drainage from 174 Floating boats and hotels
Luxor None Untreated and feddans (4,200 m2 each)
Semi-treated Sewage
Sugar mills, Textile mills, Only 15% of the area is Medium, Floating boats and hotels
Aluminum complex served by sewage Only drainage from 1,402
Qena disposal system. feddans
Leaching Pit
Sugar industry, Chemical Only 40% of the area is Low, Floating boats and hotels
fertilizer covered by sewage Only drainage from 617
Aswan disposal system feddans
Leaching Pit
Petroleum in Gulf of Suez Harghada and Hotels, related facilities,
Red Sea and shipping surrounding tourism area None and desalination plants
Source: JICA Study Team

(3) Noise and Vibration

Several monitoring stations have been newly setup in the study area to monitor parameters of
noise and vibration. These stations are still under calibration process.

(4) Solid Waste

Solid waste management
Present condition of the solid waste management in each study area can be summarized as
follows.
Upper Nile: In Qena, domestic solid waste is being collected door to door through
governmental, private waste collectors and NGO. In tourism areas, the solid wastes are well
collected, however, accumulations of waste have been seen in the residential area. The
governorate is encouraging investors to set-up factories to convert agricultural solid waste into
animal feeds, and composting factories to produce organic fertilizers and so on. The situation in
Luxor and Aswan are almost similar to Qena. In Luxor, there is no large industry that can
cause pollution. Open burning of solid waste is observed in the area. Most of the landfill
sites are located in the east side of the Nile River.
Red Sea: The Red Sea has been divided into 7 sectors and 22 tourist centers along the coastal
sea. The solid wastes generated from these centers are collected and disposed daily by each
owner of the tourist center. Segregation and separate collection are not implemented in this
area. However, a large volume of waste is transported to a city composting plant. There is a
composting plant in Hurghada but its treatment capacity is not enough. Most of the non-organic
solid wastes and other construction wastes are buried in the desert.
Generation Amount
Table 1.5.12 shows the average generated amount of municipal solid waste in the study area.
Based on the data shown in the table, it is calculated that 40-60% of the municipal solid waste
in the study areas is combustible.

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Table 1.5.12 Average Generation of Municipal Solid Waste in Upper Egypt

1996 Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea
Combustible (ton) 512 121 236 30
Non-combustible (ton) 332 89 159 14
Total (ton) 845 200 395 44
Source: Information offices of each governorate

The daily unit amount of solid waste per capita in the study area is given in Table 1.5.13.
Table 1.5.13 Unit Amount of Solid Waste in Upper Egypt
Governorate Urban (kg/capita/day) Rural (kg/capita/day)
Qena 0.6 0.25
Luxor 0.6 0
Aswan 0.6 0.25
Red Sea 0.4 0.3
Source: Solid Waste Survey, EEAA 1999

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1. Existing Condition
1.1 Socio-economy

1.1.1 Geographic and Demographic Information

Qena Governorate and Aswan Governorate have large agricultural lands amounting to
2 2
1,383km and 763km respectively, and the total population of Upper Nile (Qena, Luxor and
Aswan) amounts to 3.8 million. Luxor City was part of Qena Governorate until 1989, when
Presidential Decree (No.135/1989) was issued and gave Luxor separate status as an
autonomous administration. Economy of the city depends largely on the tourism sector, and
inves tment in tourism projects is being encouraged. Upper Nile can supply agricultural
products and labor for the Red Sea's tourism industries as well as for its own tourism needs.
On the other hand, Red Sea Governorate is one of the coastal, frontier governorates in Egypt,
extending 1,080 km along the Red Sea. It consists of 6 cities, 11 local village units, and 19
villages. Due to its location, the governorate is strategically important to national security.
Inhabited land in Red Sea Governorate is extremely small (0.1% of total land area) and its 1999
population of 165 thousand is scattered over six cities from north to south. The pattern of
population distribution indicates a particular feature, i.e., the share of female population is 43%.
It can be considered that more than 20 thousand male workers are living alone in Red Sea
Governorate, which has booming tourism-related industries.
Table 1.1.1 Land Use in Qena, Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in
1996
Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea
Total area (km2) 10,265 91 34,608 130,000
1,610 91 940 71
Inhabited area (km2)
15.7% 100.0% 2.7% 0.1%
Residential 92 6 78 71
Utilities 112 20 52 0
Swamps and Others 23 1 46 0
Agricultural 1,383 64 763 0.3
Source: Governorate net by IDSC

Table 1.1.2 Population in Qena, Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1996
Population Urban population Female population
Governorate/City (thousand) (%) (%)
Qena 2,441 21% 50%
Luxor City 360 100% 49%
Aswan 974 43% 50%
Sub total 3,775 - -
Red Sea 156 89% 43%
Whole Egypt 59,272 43% 49%
Source: Statistical Yearbook 1992-1997 by CAPMS

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Table 1.1.3 Population of Cities in Red Sea Governorate in 1999

Cities in Red Sea Population Urban population Natural growth rate
Governorate (thousand) (%) of population
Ras Gharib 30 96% 2.0%
Hurghada 63 100% 1.8%
Safaga 29 88% 2.2%
Quseir 27 80% 2.2%
Marsa Alrm 4 49% 0.8%
Bir Shalateen 12 49% 3.7%
Total 165 89% 1.9%
Source: Information department of the Red Sea Governorate, 1999

Table 1.1.4 shows the total number of households and family structure in the study area and
Egypt in 1996. Average number of household members is large in Qena, while those in Luxor,
Aswan and Red Sea are almost same as the country’s average.
Table 1.1.4 Total Number of Households and Family Structure in 1996
Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea Egypt
Number of households (thousand) 2,703 78 201 29 12,703
Average number of household members 5.1 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.7
Source: 1996 Census of Population, Housing and Establishments. Household Conditions, Final Results, CAPMAS, April
1999

1.1.2 Economic Activities

In Qena Governorate and Aswan Governorate, agriculture is the major economic sector
contributing to about 25-30% of their GRDP. Major crops are sugar cane, tomato, banana,
wheat, etc. Particularly, Qena shares 44% of sugar cane area in Egypt. Red Sea Governorate
owes its economy to natural and mineral resources. Agricultural land is currently only 80
feddans and 11,850 feddans areas are planned for reclamation. Most of the oil, gold, iron,
marble and precious stones in Egypt are products of the Red Sea Governorate.
Tourism sector shares 2.8%, 2.9% and 55.3% in Qena (including Luxor), Aswan and Red Sea
Governorate respectively in 1993/94.
Regarding the employment structure, share of service sector is high in Aswan and Red Sea
accounting for more than 50%, while in Qena, agriculture shares 42% of total employment.
GRDP per capita in 1996 is LE 1,548, LE 2,031 and LE 5,482 in Qena, Aswan and the Red Sea
respectively. The figures of Qena and Aswan are lower than the national average (LE 3,461)
but that of the Red Sea is higher, as shown in Table 1.1.5. Unemployment of Aswan shows
an extremely high rate at 21%.

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 Table 1.1.5 GRDP by Sector in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1993/94
Qena including
Sector Aswan Red Sea
Luxor
GRDP (LE) millions 4,207 1,974 592
Share of sector (%)
Agriculture 31.5% 25.5% 8.6%
Industry & Mining 6.6% 6.4% 25.3%
Electricity 5.9% 8.2% 1.3%
Housing & Construction 17.1% 6.5% 1.1%
Service 38.9% 53.5% 63.7%
-Transportation, Storage & Communications 5.1% 5.0% 1.3%
-Trade 9.7% 18.8% 0.0%
-Finance, Insurance & Soc. Insurance 2.5% 3.9% 0.0%
-Tourism 2.8% 2.9% 55.3%
-Public Utilities 0.3% 0.2% 0.6%
-Public & Private Services 18.6% 22.7% 6.4%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Source: Kilani, El Sayed Mohammed, Estimation of Regional Income in Egypt, National Institute of Planning 1998

Figure 1.1.1 Composition of GRDP in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in 1993/94

Housing & Construction

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Qena including Luxor

Aswan

Red Sea

Agriculture
Industry & Mining
Service Tourism

Source: Kilani, El Sayed Mohammed, Estimation of Regional Income in Egypt, National Institute of Planning 1998

Table 1.1.6 Share of Employment by Sector and GRDP per Capita in Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates in
1996
Qena including
Luxor Aswan Red Sea Whole Egypt
Employment (thousand) 567 268 56 15,340
Share of total population 20% 28% 36% 27%
Employment
Agriculture 42 % 29 % 20 % 31 %
Industry (including manufacturing) 20 % 21 % 19 % 22 %
Services 38 % 50 % 61 % 47 %
Unemployment Ratio 10.9% 20.6% 6.5% 9.2%
1,548
GRDP per Capita (LE) 2,031 5,482 3,461
(Qena only)
Source: Labor Surveys 1996 by CAPMAS

1.1.3 Social Condition

(1) Illegal Settlements

Table 1.1.7 shows the number of illegal settlements and their population in Upper Egypt.
 Table 1.1.7 Number of Illegal Settlements and their Population in Upper Egypt in 1996

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

Qena Luxor Aswan Red Sea

26
Total number of illegal settlements (Areas) 57 3 40 (1993)
50,000
Total population in illegal settlements (persons) 493,616 12,550 412,162 (1993)
Source: Qena, Luxor and Aswan: CAPMAS 1996 Census and the Annual Statistics Yearbook, June 1999
Red Sea: Human Resources Development Report 1996 by The National Institute of Planning

(2) Minority Races and Communities

Until 1960, the “Bedouin” in Egypt were considered nomads. They lived in frontier
governorates, particularly north and south of Sinai, Matrouh, the Red Sea and the Western
Desert. However, through population censuses, it was identified that a majority of them have
already settled in permanent communities and are no longer living a nomadic life
Qena Governorate
The population of Qena Governorate predominantly lives in rural areas (78.8% rural in 1998).
They constitute a homogenous group sharing the same tradition and cultural traits with the rest
of southern Egypt’s population.
Luxor City
The population of Luxor City is all urban population and nomads do not exist. They are mainly
of southern Egyptian origin and migrants from other regions of the country who came to work
in Luxor City.
Aswan Governorate
There are several sub-groups of the Egyptian population which have distinctive sub-cultures
within the Egyptian culture rooted in Islamic, Arab and old Egypt traditions. At present, the
following five of these sub-groups live in Aswan:
El Kunouz is Nubian tribe. They had lived north of old Nubia (south of Aswan City), and moved to an area
north of Kom Ombo City after the establishment of the High Dam and the formation of Nasser Lake. This tribe
speaks its own dialect in addition to Arabic language, and uses their dialect in singing, which is accompanied
by drums and tanboura music.

El Fajeka is another Nubian tribe. They had lived south of old Nubia to wards close to Sudanese borders, and
moved to the area east of Kom Ombo City after the establishment of the High Dam. They also have their own
dialect, which is different from that of El Kunouz, in addition to the Arabic language. Their folkloric music and
songs are similar to those of El Kunouz, but have their special dances such as Arajid.

Bashariya and Abaddah tribes live in the area east of Aswan and in Red Sea Mountains. They have a special
dialect, which is different from Nubian dialects, and speak Arabic.

Arab tribe had lived in the middle of old Nubia between El Kunouz and El Fajika tribes, and currently lives in
the area east of Kom Ombo. They speak Arabic language only.

El Gaafrah tribe lives in small cities and villages along the banks of the Nile River, north of Aswan City. This
tribe is of Arab origin and came to Aswan during the Islamic invasion of Egypt.

It should be noted that despite their relatively low economic standards, these subgroups share
norms of generosity, hospitality and respect. They are willing to participate in efforts directed
to development of their communities.
Red Sea Governorate
There are few sub-groups of the Bedouin population who live in Red Sea area and have their
distinctive way of life, including a special dialect (in addition to the main language), special
dress and ceremonies of marriage and birth. The two distinctive subgroups in Red Sea area are
Basharia and Ababdah tribes who live in the area extending from east of Aswan to Shalatin and
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Main Report
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Halayeb at the southeast corner of Red Sea Governorate close to the Sudanese borders.
These tribes live on camel and sheep rising and some work in indigenous jobs in tourist
villages, oil fields, mines and fisheries in the area.

1.1.4 Population Projection

The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities has estima ted the future population
framework for 2017. As shown in Table 1.1.8, the growth rates of Qena Governorate and
Luxor City are the same level as the average growth rate of the population of the country, which
is estimated at 1.66% per year. On the contrary, Red Sea Governorate shows a very high
growth rate at 4.8%, while it is low in Aswan Governorate.
Table 1.1.8 Population Projection for 2017
Population in 1996 Population in 2017 Increase 1996-2017 Average annual
Governorate/City (thousand) (thousand) (thousand) growth rate
Qena 2,441 3,432 991 1.64%
Luxor City 361 502 141 1.60%
Aswan 974 1,172 198 0.89%
Red Sea 156 419 263 4.82%
Total 3,932 5,525 1,593 -
Whole Egypt 59,727 83,702 23,975 1.66%
Source: Development Master Plan in Egypt until 2012, June 1998, by General Organization for Physical Planning, Ministry of
Housing, utilities and Urban Communities

In the meantime, regarding Luxor City and Red Sea Governorate, the regional development
plans have individually been formulated afterward with a special focus on tourism
development.
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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

1.1.5 Local Government Budget

Table 1.1.9 shows the budget of local governments in the priority area for the 1998/99 fiscal
year. The sources of revenue of governorates consist of tax, transfers from the state
government, fees and charges, and capital revenue. In the 1998/99 fiscal year, the revenues of
Luxor City and Qena, Aswan and Red Sea Governorates are LE 123 million, LE 562 million,
LE 363 million and LE 118 million respectively. In the meantime, Luxor City and Qena,
Aswan and Red Sea Governorates have allocated 11%, 5%, 7% and 13% of their total
expenditure to investment expenditure respectively. Share of the investment budget is
comparatively high in Red Sea Governorate and Luxor City.
Amount of expenditure budget per person varies among the governorates. In Red Sea
Governorate it is the highest at LE 693 per person per year. It is lowest in Qena Governorate,
amounting to LE 223, which is one third that of Red Sea Governorate.
Figure 1.1.2 illustrates the change of budget amounts and composition of revenue of the four
local governments from 1994/95 to 1998/99. Share of local fee revenues is high in Red Sea
Governorate and it increased from 30% in 1994/95 to 40% in 1998/99.
Table 1.1.9 Local Government Budgets in 1998/99 Fiscal Year
Qena Aswan Red Sea
Luxor City Governorate Governorate Governorate
Total Revenues (LE million) 123 562 363 118
Tax 11% 6% 5% 7%
Transfers 63% 80% 81% 39%
Local Fees 15% 9% 6% 40%
Capital Revenues 11% 5% 7% 13%
Total Expenditures (LE million) 123 562 363 118
Investment 11% 5% 7% 13%
Recurrent Expenditures 89% 95% 93% 87%
Share of budget revenue to GRDP 1) N.A. 12% 12% 14%
Expenditures per person per year (LE) 2) 331 223 366 693
Note: 1) Share of budget to GRDP is calculated by projected GRDP in 1998/99.
2) Expenditure per person per year is calculated by population projection in 1998/99.
GRDP projections in 1998/99 are based on 1993/94 data given in Table 1.1.4, the average annual sectoral growth
rate of the 3rd Five-Year plan (1992/99-1996/97) and the 4th, Five-Year Plan (1997/98-2001/2002).
Population in 1998/99 is projected based on 1996 population and future population is estimated by General
Organization for Physical Planning.
Source: Governorates

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Figure 1.1.2 Revenues of Local Governments (1994/95-1998/99)

150.0
milion LE

100.0
Budget Revenue of Luxor City

Capital rev enues

Local fees

50.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Transfers

Tax

600.0
500.0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0

400.0
Budget Revenue of Qena Governorate

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Budget Revenue of Asuwan Governorate

300.0

200.0
milion LE
100.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

150.0
Budget Revenue of Red Sea Governorate

100.0

50.0

0.0

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99

Source: Information from each governorate

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Part II Upper Egypt Tourism Development Plan

1.1.6 Existing Plans of City Development in Upper Nile and the Red Sea
Formulation of master plans of cities in Upper Nile has been planned recently by several
agencies such as Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities (MHUUC) with
UNDP such as Luxor and Aswan cities, local governorates, and the Ministry of Planning. This
is in line with the National Project for Developing Southern Egypt, aimed at redressing
the grave imbalance in the distribution of investments and returns of development a
mong Egypt's governorates. TDA has helped cities in Upper Nile not only at advisory level
but also financial level to develop tourism facilities such as berthing facilities for the Nile cruise
boats.
On the other hand, Red Sea Governorate is currently reviewing master plans for seven cities,
which were planned by MHUUC in 1999. Development master plans for four cities within the
Upper Egypt Region (Hurghada, Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam) should be well coordinated
with the development plan of TDA Tourist Centers to set up the future population distribution
and regional structure and to distribute regional urban functions to each city.

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